Employment
Judge given formal advice after creating “hostile environment”
A controversial employment judge has been issued with formal advice for misconduct after he was found to have created a “hostile environment” for a party.
Stonewall did not induce chambers to discriminate against barrister
The Court of Appeal has rejected a barrister’s claim that LGBT charity Stonewall “caused or induced” discrimination against her by her chambers.
AI employment law firm negotiates £30k settlement for client
The employment law service powered entirely by artificial intelligence and launched three months ago has negotiated a £30,000 settlement for a user.
Judge attacks law firm’s “unconscionable opportunism”
An employment judge has condemned “unconscionable opportunism” by a Cornish law firm in seeking to “capitalise” on a procedural error by a disabled receptionist.
“AI has its limits”, tribunal tells ex-Axiom Ince employee
Artificial intelligence “has its limitations”, an employment tribunal judge has told a man who used it in a claim against collapsed law firm Axiom Ince.
City firm wins appeal over NQ solicitor’s commission payment
A City law firm has won its appeal against an employment tribunal decision that it pay a newly qualified solicitor nearly £8,000 in commission he said he was owed.
Lawyer sexually harassed female colleague 54 years his junior
A 29-year-old woman was sexually harassed by a lawyer 54 years her senior when he invited her for a meeting in his hotel room, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Solicitor settled employment claim without asking client
A solicitor with mental health issues who settled an employment tribunal claim without consulting her client has been struck off.
Judge right not to recuse herself over work done in practice
A judge was right not to recuse herself from an equal pay case because of her background handling similar cases when in practice as a claimant solicitor, the president of the EAT has ruled.
LeO names firms “in public interest” as it publishes first full decisions
The Legal Ombudsman has published three of its final decisions in full for the first time, including the names of the firms involved, arguing that the move increases transparency.
NDAs to cover up harassment and discrimination “will be void”
The government is to ban non-disclosure agreements covering harassment and discrimination unless the victim themselves asks for one.
Lawyers criticised for injunction application against general counsel
The High Court has criticised lawyers who unnecessarily brought a without-notice application against an in-house solicitor and then did not present the case in a “fair and even-handed manner”.
Investigate “bullying” judge or face judicial review, watchdog told
A group of 10 people is threatening a judicial review against the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office unless it investigates a judge’s alleged misogynistic and bullying behaviour.
Complaint to SRA “cannot form basis of discrimination claim”
A City law firm’s complaint to the SRA about a disabled worker cannot form the basis of a discrimination claim, an employment tribunal has ruled.
“Whistleblowing” paralegal not unfairly dismissed by immigration firm
An employment tribunal has rejected claims from a paralegal that she was unfairly dismissed by her immigration firm for whistleblowing about client-care letters not being sent out.
Blog
Why later-life divorce requires a distinct professional framework
Later-life divorce, often described as ‘silver splitter’ or ‘grey divorce’ cases, is no longer a marginal feature of family law practice. It challenges long-standing assumptions about how divorce work is done.
Listening, learning and leading The Solicitor’s Charity with care
As I prepare to hand over the mantle of chair of The Solicitor’s Charity next month, it doesn’t feel like an end. Instead, it feels like a wonderful journey.
Is competition in the legal sector stifling innovation?
As the legal sector’s competitive landscape continues to evolve, Nobel laureates remind us that innovation is not inevitable,and that competition may not always be an incentive to innovate.
