Barristers
LSB rethinks rule stopping rep bodies from “influencing” regulators
The Legal Services Board is pulling back on proposed rules that would not allow bodies like the Law Society and Bar Council to try and “influence” their regulatory arms.
Barristers can act as deputies, Court of Protection rules
Barristers can act as professional property and affairs deputies for people who lack mental capacity, although it is not seen as a legal service, the Court of Protection has ruled.
SRA: Law firm harassment cases behind majority of NDA complaints
More than half of the reports received by the SRA about the use of non-disclosure agreements in discrimination or harassment cases relate to claims made within law firms, it has emerged.
Barrister and solicitor thrown out of profession for sex offences
A barrister jailed for 10 years for multiple sex offences has been disbarred, while a solicitor convicted of three offences and handed a suspended sentence has been struck off.
Barrister’s non-contractual fees “vest in trustee in bankruptcy”
A barrister’s non-contractual fees are property for the purposes of insolvency law and vest in his trustee in bankruptcy, the Court of Appeal has ruled as it overturned the High Court.
High Court rejects bomb hoax barrister’s appeal
The High Court has rejected an appeal from a barrister disbarred last year after being jailed for telling the government that the Olympic Games in London was at risk from terrorists with a nuclear bomb.
Jail for bogus barrister who scammed his way to pupillage
A fraudster who posed as a barrister after tricking a London set into giving him pupillage has been jailed for 27 months. He worked on 18 family law cases, one of which has already had to be reheard.
Discriminatory instruction barrister: Fault is system’s not solicitor’s
The Asian woman barrister who was disinstructed after her client wanted a white man to represent her has said she does not blame the solicitor involved.
“Unnecessary” – BSB explains u-turn on issuing NDA guidance
The Bar Standards Board went back on its intention to issue guidance on the use of non-disclosure agreements after concluding it was “neither necessary nor appropriate”, MPs have been told.
Pupil recruitment system “not virtue signalling”, QC says
The first chambers to use a recruitment system which provides ‘contextual’ information to improve diversity is not “virtue signalling”, the head of its pupillage committee has said.
Blog
The importance of benchmarking reports – and lessons on profitability
Regional firms reported the largest revenue growth this year (12%), outpacing their City counterparts. Yet many are not converting that growth into profitability.
Fixed recoverable costs: Sacrificing justice for predictability?
The extended fixed recoverable costs regime is failing to achieve its stated objectives. Instead of promoting fairness and efficiency, the rules are creating anomalies that undermine justice.
Expectations keep rising, so prioritise client experience
Law firms are facing growing pressure to place greater focus on client experience or risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive legal market.
