Conveyancing boom brings hundreds of firms back into market
Conveyancers enjoyed their busiest year on record in 2021/22 – and hundreds of law firms came back into the market – with the average practice seeing a 60% rise in transactions.
Complaints about SRA rise on back of major law firm closure
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been hit by a wave of complaints relating to its closure of law firm consolidator Kingly Solicitors in the summer of 2020.
Tribunals agree to “deterrent” sanctions for sexual and racial misconduct
The disciplinary tribunals for solicitors and barristers have agreed to impose “deterrent” sanctions for sexual and racial misconduct and other forms of discrimination, bullying or harassment.
Cost of cyber insurance becoming unaffordable for some
The explosion in cyber-attacks is pushing insurance to the limits of affordability for some, with the professional services sector the biggest target of ransomware.
“Postcode lottery” with civil cases waiting up to 15 months for CCMCs
Fast-track and multi-track civil cases are taking between five and 15 months to complete their first case and costs management conference, depending on the court, research has found.
IBA project to probe role of lawyers as “ethical gatekeepers”
The International Bar Association has launched a project to examine the role of lawyers as “ethical gatekeepers” within wider society and help clarify their ethical responsibilities at work.
Last-minute damages claim portal reprieve for defendants
The plan by HM Courts & Tribunals to make the new damages claim portal compulsory for defendants from 2 June was pulled at the last minute for unknown reasons.
Email phishing and ransomware on the rise, SRA warns firms
Email-based fraud is on the rise and is the dominant method criminals use to access law firms’ systems, with ransomware was also increasing and evolving, according to the SRA.
Appeal judge deprecates litigators who display their “machismo”
A Court of Appeal judge has deprecated litigators who display their “machismo” but found that a party’s approach to enforce a non-compete covenant went “too far in the opposite direction”.
Lawyers “underestimate public appetite” for using technology
Lawyers underestimate the public’s appetite for using technology in the delivery of legal services, a major study by the Legal Services Board and Solicitors Regulation Authority has found.
