Solicitors
Solicitor’s conviction for neglecting mother quashed
The Court of Appeal has quashed a jail sentence of two and a half years imposed on a solicitor, who specialised in care for the elderly, for neglecting her mother.
Multiplicity of legal regulators “not helping AML fight”
The “multiplicity” of legal and accountancy regulators in the UK is not helping the fight against money laundering, the Financial Action Task Force has complained.
SRA: Law firms must be able to explain decisions made by AI
Law firms must be able to explain “automated decisions”, including those involving artificial intelligence (AI), the Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned.
SQE does “violence to law” as academic discipline
The introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination does “significant violence to law as an academic discipline and to our colleagues and students”, law lecturers have argued.
What transparency? Only 28% of websites show prices
The profession has a long way to go to meet the new price and service transparency requirements, with just 28% of firms compliant or close to compliant, our research has found.
Quarter of conveyancers “not transparent” on fees
A quarter of consumers believe their lawyer was “not transparent” on conveyancing fees, new research has shown on the day new price and service transparency rules come into force.
Law Society’s £30m cut of practising fees faces scrutiny
The £30m that the Law Society levies on solicitors for its representative work is to be put under the microscope by the Legal Services Board next year.
Struck-off solicitor fails to overturn sentence for conducting litigation
The Court of Appeal has refused permission for a struck-off solicitor to appeal against a suspended prison sentence handed out for conducting litigation in breach of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Law firm’s bid to trade mark ‘legal engineer’ rejected
The Intellectual Property Office has rejected much of a law firm’s bid to trade mark the term ‘legal engineer’, saying it should be free for anyone in the profession to use.
Solicitor rebuked and fined for dealings with journalist
A solicitor acting in a case of historical sexual abuse has been rebuked for sharing with a journalist a document that then formed the basis of an article, when he should not have done.
Blog
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.
Gen Z lawyers vs identity, sacrifice and success
This conversation began with my training principal, who admitted something many senior lawyers quietly feel: “I struggle to understand what motivates Gen Z lawyers.”
