Courts send different messages to lawyers over witness statements
The strengthened rules on witness statements should not be used as a “weapon with which to fillet” essentially insignificant failures to comply, a High Court judge has said.
Whiplash reforms “a cautious success”, MoJ chief says
The government considers the Official Injury Claim portal – about to celebrate its first birthday – to be a “cautious success”, a senior official at the Ministry of Justice said yesterday.
“Long haul to recover” – BSB counts cost of cyber-attack
A malicious cyber-attack on the Bar Standards Board a month ago – for the fourth time in a year – has proved “catastrophic” for the regulator, a meeting of its governing board heard yesterday.
Supreme Court maintains SRA costs protection for failed prosecutions
The Supreme Court has upheld the principle that costs should only be awarded against the Solicitors Regulation Authority in unsuccessful prosecutions where there is good reason to do so.
First VW emissions group claim settles for £193m plus costs
The Volkswagen NOx emissions group litigation settled yesterday for £193m – some £2,120 for each of the 91,000 claimants, but more like £3,000 when costs and other fees are added.
“Money will never be a bar to acting” – Good Law Project sets up ABS
Not-for-profit campaign organisation Good Law Project will next month open a “law firm for the public good” to help run public law and social welfare cases.
Rebuke for partner who took trainee to strip club
A male City partner who added to a female trainee’s discomfort at being taken to a strip club during a work event by putting his arm around her waist has been rebuked.
Solicitor used firm’s client account to administer family finances
A veteran solicitor has been fined for administering her family’s finances through her firm’s client account over 18 years and using it “as an overdraft facility for her family”.
Law firm’s AI-backed email tool “cut three days’ work to three hours”
An email management tool using AI and developed through a knowledge transfer partnership between a university and a law firm has reduced three days’ work in processing emails to three hours.
SRA to press ahead with plan to increase fining power to £25,000
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to press ahead with plans to expand its fining powers from the current maximum of £2,000 to £25,000 and introduce fixed penalties for low-level offences.
