Court “wrong” to strike out small claim where party was absent but represented
The lower courts were wrong to strike out a small claim where the claimant failed to attend the trial personally but was represented by a lawyer, the Court of Appeal has held.
Lawyers’ eco-declaration sparks cab-rank rule row
A row about the cab-rank rule blew up today after barristers who have committed not to prosecute climate protestors or work for fossil fuel companies self-reported themselves to the BSB.
SRA in-house lawyer review fails to recognise “severity of risks”
The Solicitors Regulation Authority does not appear to recognise the “severity of the risks” facing in-house lawyers indicated by its own research, a group of senior practitioners has warned.
Completion of court modernisation programme pushed back again
Completion of the court modernisation programme has been pushed back again, this time to March 2024, it has emerged – in a blog, rather than a Ministry of Justice annoucement.
Compulsory family mediation “will reduce demand for law firms”
Plans to make mediation mandatory before a separating couple can go to court is likely to reduce demand for legal services providers, the Ministry of Justice said yesterday.
Law firm unfairly dismissed “homophobic” secretary
A law firm unfairly dismissed a legal secretary who made homophobic comments because of how it ran the disciplinary process, an employment tribunal has ruled.
LeO wins approval for 9.6% increase in budget to £16.8m
An “inflationary” 9.6% increase in the Legal Ombudsman’s budget for 2023-24, to £16.8m, has been approved by the Legal Services Board.
Barrister awarded £136,000 for CPS disability discrimination
A disabled former senior prosecutor has been awarded damages of nearly £136,000 for discrimination suffered at the hands of the Crown Prosecution Service.
Minster and NAHL results highlight changing shape of PI market
Just 12 law firms are responsible for 83% of claims lodged with the OIC portal as its impact on reshaping the personal injury market is laid clear by the results of leading practices.
Solicitor-turned-barrister rebuked for offensive email
A solicitor-turned-barrister has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for sending an offensive email that wished harm or even death on its recipients.
