Practice Management
“Confrontational” trainee was not a whistleblower
A trainee who complained of “a perceived lack of training” a few weeks after starting work at a small Norfolk law firm was not a whistleblower, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Court strikes out “incomprehensible” claim against law firm
The High Court has struck out a claim for professional negligence, breach of contract and fiduciary duty made against a central London law firm which was based on “incomprehensible pleadings”.
SRA considers ditching skills testing from first part of SQE
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is considering whether to abandon the skills element of the first stage of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, meaning it would consist entirely of multiple-choice questions.
One in three legal consumers using online services
A third of consumers are now accessing legal services online while telephone-based services are declining, new research has found. However, the proportion shopping around is still relatively low.
City firm called in to advise on Legal Access Challenge
The innovation division of City law firm Ashurst has been appointed as technical adviser to the Legal Access Challenge, which aims to support and accelerate ideas to use technology to improve access to justice. The challenge is the centrepiece of… Read More
MPs restrict role of Lord Chief in setting online court rules
MPs have backed a government amendment that would limit the role of the Lord Chief Justice in approving requests to make new rules for the proposed online court.
More backing for AI contract drafting start-up
An artificial intelligence start-up whose contract-writing assistant draws on a law firm’s own body of data and teaches itself without the need for training by lawyers, has received a further £1.2m in seed funding.
DWF trainee loses unfair dismissal claim over confidential emails
A trainee solicitor fired by listed law firm DWF for sharing confidential client information with a friend has failed in her unfair dismissal claim before an employment tribunal.
Government to legislate for legal advice on NDAs
The government has pledged to change the law to ensure that employees signing non-disclosure agreements receive independent legal advice, and work with the SRA on updated guidance.
MPs urge caution over speed of online court development
MPs have urged the government to learn the lessons of previous major IT projects and move cautiously with the development on online courts.
Blog
Is your Google Ads budget funding your competitors’ AI visibility?
If your cost-per-click has crept up again this year, you’ve probably assumed the market simply got more expensive. That’s the wrong way to read what’s happening.
Containing the spread of unapproved AI
Nearly 60% of fee-earners admit to using unapproved tools (like free versions of ChatGPT). Yet 68% of firm leaders are confident there is zero risk of unapproved AI being used for client work.
When AI adoption goes wrong, costs add up fast
City AM recently reported that London is fighting to claim the title of ‘global capital of legal AI’. However, it’s crucial we remember that adoption alone does not create value.
