Initiative extends pro bono opportunities to firms’ business services staff
A new initiative extending pro bono opportunities to business operations professionals at large law firms has gone live, linking them with third sector organisations needing volunteers.
Judge calls for guidance on rights of unqualified agency advocates
County court judges would benefit from “more authoritative guidance” from the higher courts on whether unqualified solicitor’s agents have rights of audience, a circuit judge has said.
Partner fined after charitable trusts used client account as bank
A charity law specialist who allowed two charitable trusts to use his firm’s client account as a banking facility has been fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Regulators must tackle “out-of-date” lawyers, LSB says
Regulators must take action to ensure that lawyers are not operating with “out-of-date” skills or knowledge, the Legal Services Board has said.
FCA toughens up new claims management company ‘phoenixing’ ban
The Financial Conduct Authority is going ahead with a tougher version of a ban on ‘phoenixing’ by financial services claims management companies, which will come into force next month.
Entrepreneurs group takes minority stake in boutique law firm
A tech entrepreneurs’ forum set up by the co-founder of lastminute.com has taken a significant minority stake in a law firm that specialises in acting for fintech clients.
Mishcon puts float on ice as staff at listed firms enjoy share rewards
London law firm Mishcon de Reya has put its plans to float on the stock market on hold for the “foreseeable future”, it announced yesterday.
Online rule committee will be catalyst for digital justice, says Birss
The work of the new Online Procedure Rules Committee will help connect the whiplash portal and other pre-action regimes to the court system electronically, the deputy head of civil justice has said.
CAT prefers opt-in to opt-out in choosing truck cartel claimant
The Competition Appeal Tribunal yesterday chose an opt-in collective action over an opt-out to pursue a multi-billion pound claim over a cartel that controlled the cost of trucks over 14 years.
MPs warn of “politicisation” of Supreme Court
The “high number of instances” in which the Supreme Court has reversed its position on the law has created “the troubling appearance” of the politicisation of the judiciary”, MPs have warned.
