Solicitors fury at “real-terms cut” in criminal legal aid fees
The Law Society yesterday reacted with fury to the government’s failure to deliver the 15% increase in criminal legal aid fees that its own report said was needed as a bare minimum.
Chambers focusing diversity efforts on access to the Bar, not retention
Chambers are focusing their efforts to improve racial diversity on recruitment rather than progression or retention, a Bar Council report has found.
SRA wins £120k grant to support tech-enabled dispute resolution
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been awarded a £120,000 government grant to explore ways to increase the use of technology-enabled dispute resolution.
CAT rebukes City law firms for going around class action representative
Two City law firms acting for the defendants in a £150m class action have been rebuked by the Competition Appeal Tribunal for writing directly to class members.
MoJ: Number of unrepresented claimants is not measure of OIC success
The fact that fewer than 10% of claimants use the Official Injury Claim portal without legal representation does not mean the system has failed to deliver, the government said yesterday.
Powers of attorney to lead the way in strong wills and probate market
Powers of attorney and “other guardianship advice” will lead the way as the wills and probate market continues to expand over the next few years, a report has predicted.
Banks stopping law firms with licences acting for sanctioned people
There have been “numerous scenarios” where banks have stopped solicitors working under government licences for those subject to UK sanctions by refusing to process transactions, the SRA has said.
Warning for profession, help for public – SRA steps up SLAPPs pressure
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is now investigating 29 cases where law firms might be involved in SLAPPs, it revealed yesterday as it issued a warning notice over such abusive litigation.
Pioneering apprentices qualify as solicitors at leading law firm
Seven apprentices at the first large law firm to run the training scheme – which takes six years and includes a law degree – have qualified as solicitors.
Solicitor had “massive holes” in accounts knowledge
A law firm owner who admitted having “massive holes” in her knowledge of the accounts rules has been fined £5,000 after letting a £41,000 shortfall build up on client account.
