Regulation
Chambers changes name over Lord Hardwicke’s links to slavery
Well-known Lincoln’s Inn set Hardwicke Chambers is to change its name to Gatehouse Chambers in recognition of the role of Lord Hardwicke in perpetuating slavery in the 18th century.
Pupil victim of sexual assault by barrister “let down by system”
A female victim of sexual assault by a male barrister has spoken about how she was let down by her chambers, the Bar Standards Board and the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service.
Solicitors fined for allowing firm to take on work beyond expertise
Two solicitors have been fined for allowing their firm to take on work in areas where they had no experience and accepting client money when it did not have a client account.
SRA eyes pilot to promote greater unbundling of legal services
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is planning a pilot with other legal regulators on how to extend the use of unbundling as evidence showed it could save consumers up to 50% in fees, it has emerged.
Ex-client used fake threat to sue solicitor to obtain information
Correspondence between solicitors involving “an element of deception” as to its real purpose can be covered by litigation privilege, the High Court has ruled.
Black lawyers call on profession to be “example of anti-racism”
The group Black Women in Law has called on fellow lawyers to be an “example of anti-racism in action” by challenging racism whenever they see it and wherever they hear it.
Barrister under fire for “racist” comments about Royal baby
A family law barrister has been suspended from the innovative business she founded after being accused of making racist comments about the new Royal baby.
Plan for single register of all regulated and unregulated legal providers
A digital register of regulated and unregulated legal services providers would be “the simplest solution” to improve consumer navigation of the market, the Legal Services Board has said.
LSB eyes accreditation scheme for comparison websites
The Legal Services Board is set to recommend an accreditation scheme for review and comparison websites as take-up among both law firms and consumers continues to rise.
International innovation to inform ongoing competence reform
New forms of intervention introduced in other countries to ensure the ongoing competence of lawyers – such as annual assessments and greater self-reflection – will influence reform in England and Wales.
Blog
The cost of systemic failure and childbirth injuries
Recent reports show that the NHS has paid almost £3.5bn in medical claims around childbirth injuries over the past six years.
Mazur: when regulators make simple things complicated
What the last six months have shown is that supervision cannot be treated as a background compliance obligation quietly managed somewhere in a firm’s operational processes.
How unstoppable AI is reshaping UK legal practice
At a time when most technology innovation still flows from the US and China, UK lawtech is attracting growing international attention and capital.
