Funder fails in claim to recover losses from firm’s indemnity insurer
The funder of a law firm that went bust owing it £1.6m has failed in an attempt to recover the money from the practice’s professional indemnity insurer.
Wills and probate market tops £2bn with contentious work on the rise
The value of the wills, trusts and probate market topped £2bn for the first time last year, with contentious work on the rise, and law firms’ grip on will-writing work continuing to slip.
SRA outlines concerns over inadequate advice to leaseholders
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has spelt out its concerns that clients “are not receiving appropriate advice” on onerous clauses in leases, particularly around ground rents.
Government to pilot publicly funded early legal advice
Manchester and Middlesbrough are to host pilots to test the benefits of early publicly funded legal advice. The government is also investigating putting legal advice centres in hospitals.
Diversity questions make up 20% of marks in panel tender
Clients are ratcheting up the pressure on law firms to improve their diversity, with applicants for the panel of the Pension Protection Fund the latest to have to prove their credentials.
Leading firm acted for client without obtaining authority
A well-known law firm acted for a client without receiving signed authority from him, having relied on his aunt to provide identification documents, it has emerged.
Government mulls estate agents’ disclosure of referral fees
The government is to sit down with National Trading Standards to consider whether stricter rules are needed to force estate agents to disclose that they have received referral fees from conveyancers.
Aspiring barrister subjected to “extreme discrimination” launches disability group
An organisation aimed at making the Bar more accessible to disabled people and improving the diversity of the judiciary was launched last week.
Family law start-up refused injunction in £22m contract battle
The High Court has refused to grant an injunction to a lawtech start-up so that it can gain immediate access to the software, source code and other documents necessary to complete its divorce service.
“Real challenges” for large law firms in improving diversity, says SRA
The biennial snapshot of the solicitors’ profession shows the “real challenges” for large firms in making progress towards diversity, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said.
