Firm’s error gave sex offender access to child’s confidential data
National law firm BLM has won a claim against a convicted sex offender it accidentally gave access to a vulnerable child’s confidential information and who then asked for money to delete it.
Legal aid work “close to being unsustainable”, new campaign warns
A new campaign for increased legal aid funding has been launched after the findings of a unique census showed the market will not be sustainable without more government action.
Lawyer-free divorce app leads spate of lawtech investments
An online service for separating couples who draft their own documents without lawyers has secured another £1.2m in funding, as we round up several significant investments in lawtech businesses.
Choose your submissions wisely, says judge in time-estimate warning
The judge in charge of the Commercial Court has complained again about inadequate time estimates, telling advocates they cannot ask judges to read authorities after the hearing as a shortcut.
Legal regulators should not be “overly risk averse” about technology
Legal regulators must not be “overly risk adverse” in supporting the use of technology, given its importance, a senior figure at the Legal Services Board has said.
BSB panel rejects complaints over barrister’s Royal baby tweets
A Bar Standards Board panel has rejected more than 80 complaints made against a barrister accused of making racist comments on Twitter about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby last year.
Ex-Law Society president fails in bid to strike out SDT case
David Greene, the former president of the Law Society, has failed in his attempt to halt a private prosecution of him at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, although its scope has been narrowed.
“Vested interests” of solicitors holding back ADR, government told
Solicitors’ “vested interests in pursuing lengthy litigation” are holding back the take-up of ADR, the government has been told. Their “adversarial language” was also viewed as aggravating tensions.
Peers call for national body to regulate use of AI in justice system
Peers have called for the creation of a new national body to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the justice system and elsewhere in the public sector.
GPs attack “bullying” solicitors over Covid exemption letters
The British Medical Association has accused solicitors of bullying GPs by threatening legal action if the doctor does not provide a Covid vaccination exemption for their client.
