Legal Services Act
Ex-Linklaters partner urges big firms not to furlough staff
A former Linklaters partner now researching ethics at big law firms has urged them not to furlough or make staff redundant if the goal is to maintain partner profitability levels.
Fee-earners “generate little profit” for SME law firms
Just under 90% of fees generated by fee-earners at small and medium-sized law firms last year were used to cover their costs, Law Society research has found.
Lockdown update: Video signings, emergency appeal and more
A group that contains both a regulated and unregulated law firm has launched what it says is the first video-signing service for statutory documents, as we round up the latest coronavirus news.
Week two of lockdown: Pride as work continues for many
Clients did not disappear and matters did not ground to a halt in many practice areas during the second week of the coronavirus lockdown, research has found.
MoJ eyes further support for legal aid firms and junior Bar
The Ministry of Justice is considering the idea of continuing to pay legal aid firms the average amount they claim each month to help them survive the coronavirus crisis.
New ABS targets ‘David and Goliath’ insurance disputes
A start-up alternative business structure has been launched to bring City solicitor expertise to bear to help consumers and SMEs win disputes when insurers fail to honour their policies.
Rosenblatt: Trading unaffected by coronavirus to date
Listed law firm Rosenblatt has not yet experienced any impact on its trading since the start of the coronavirus crisis, but is to delay paying out dividends to investors.
Bar Council calls on LSB not to recruit staff during crisis
The Bar Council has called on the Legal Services Board not to recruit more staff during the coronavirus crisis for the task of overseeing legal bodies’ internal governance.
Huge growth at PI ABS but Leeds office put on ice
Staff numbers at personal injury law firm Bond Turner grew by 65% last year but the listed company that owns it has put the firm’s expansion to Leeds on hold during the coronavirus crisis.
MoJ offers some financial support for legal aid firms
The Ministry of Justice has introduced economic help for legal aid firms, making hardship payments easier to access and pausing debt repayments to the Legal Aid Agency.
Most chambers “face collapse” without government cash
More than half of barristers’ chambers will go out of business within six months if they do not receive financial support from the government during the coronavirus crisis, the Bar Council has warned.
Week one of lockdown: new enquiries dived, furloughing began
The first week of the coronavirus lockdown saw new enquiries fall by up to 60% and firms start furloughing staff at once, research by a leading consultant has found. But they are “up for the fight”.
Exclusive: SRA to regulate National Accident Helpline
National Accident Helpline is giving up its authorisation as a claims management company and will in future be overseen by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, Legal Futures can reveal.
Simpson Millar buys PI practices and is on the hunt for more
National law firm Simpson Millar has demonstrated its confidence in the post-coronavirus future by buying its second personal injury book of business in the past few months and targeting more.
Budget rejection lays bare Legal Ombudsman crisis
The Legal Ombudsman has hit crisis point again after it was forced to backtrack on its request for a 20% budget rise, with the Legal Services Board describing its performance as unacceptable.
Blog
Legal director: an alternative to partnership
Firms are increasingly acknowledging the need for alternative senior roles – positions that offer influence and recognition without the obligations of ownership.
It’s time for law firms to ask tougher questions
For years, many law firms have treated ID verification as a box-ticking exercise. Run a liveness check, match a face to a document and move on. But that is no longer good enough.
Business fatigue to AI will risk job security
Whilst we know professional learning has always been part of career paths, to hire, retain and keep talent, AI needs to be embedded as a core part of this training.
