Practice Management
Cyber security watchdog issues law firm warning
The National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ, yesterday published its first report on the growing cyber threat to the legal profession.
Blockchain deployed in courts to safeguard digital evidence
The company digitising trial bundles in courts has filed a patent application to tie blockchain security to its digital evidence software to ensure records cannot be altered.
“Seismic change” on the horizon, Legal Futures roundtable hears
“Seismic change” is on the horizon for the profession because of the direction of technology, a Legal Futures roundtable on the law firm on the future has heard.
“Significant barriers” exist for disabled lawyers
Disabled people seeking employment or working in the legal profession are “an untapped resource”, according to ground-breaking research.
Courts Service to up the ante on digital divorce and probate
The next year of the court modernisation programme will see digital end-to-end services for divorce, probate, and money claims for under £10,000.
“Huge savings to come” from local land charge digitisation
HM Land Registry launched its new digital local land charges register last week, which will cut the time it takes to get results from days or weeks to seconds.
Major survey finds law firm “race to the middle” on price
Law firms are in a “race to the middle” when it comes to pricing their services and consumers are happy with what they are receiving, new research has found.
AI platform to help food banks and MPs refer legal problems to lawyers
An AI platform designed for businesses is to help staff at food banks and MPs’ surgeries refer legal enquiries from members of the public to lawyers in a pilot scheme this autumn.
ICAEW takes voluntary approach to firms publishing prices
The accountancy regulator has decided not to force its firms that provide reserved probate services to publish their fees – unlike the legal regulators.
‘Mystery shoppers’ finds law firms missing out on business
Law firms are still failing to respond to customer enquiries properly, with a mystery shopper survey showing a “dismally poor” performance in respect of follow-up calls.
Blog
Why good governance matters when managing Law Society forms
Everyday legal transactions rely on Law Society forms. But they are often treated as static templates rather than what they really are: living documents that change over time.
A letter from the SRA? Your first reaction matters
An email from the SRA has a way of rearranging a working day. It arrives in the same inbox as everything else, often in the same measured tone, yet it carries a different weight.
Regulate sole practices on evidence, not turnover
For a sole practice, the SRA’s plan that I cannot hold a compliance role if my firm has more than £600,000 of turnover is not a measure of risk. It is a ceiling on growth.
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