LSB eyes accreditation scheme for comparison websites
The Legal Services Board is set to recommend an accreditation scheme for review and comparison websites as take-up among both law firms and consumers continues to rise.
Compliance failure puts trainee’s discrimination claim in doubt
A former trainee solicitor has been given a last chance to take forward a disability discrimination claim against international firm Reed Smith, where illness meant his training contract expired.
Signs of progress at Legal Ombudsman, figures show
Performance at the Legal Ombudsman is finally improving, with more cases being closed, but dealing with the backlog is only lengthening wait times for new complainants.
International innovation to inform ongoing competence reform
New forms of intervention introduced in other countries to ensure the ongoing competence of lawyers – such as annual assessments and greater self-reflection – will influence reform in England and Wales.
Shoosmiths spins debt practice into joint venture ABS
National law firm Shoosmiths has spun its debt recovery practice into an alternative business structure joint venture with collections, recoveries and enforcement company Chartsbridge.
Leading firm is latest to target business energy mis-selling claims
Top Welsh firm Hugh James has become the latest to target the nascent business energy claims market after joining the legal panel for a leading claims company in the sector.
LPC applicants refuse en masse to disclose ethnicity
Nearly 60% of applicants for the legal practice course refused to disclose their ethnicity last year – an extraordinary rise from the 2.3% who refused in 2019.
Lawyers agree ‘baseline document’ for standardised NDA
An initiative to create a standard non-disclosure agreement for use when beginning negotiations over corporate transactions has completed its first phase, with the publication of a ‘baseline document’.
Tribunal refuses to restore sanctioned solicitor’s “pride”
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has refused to remove conditions on the practising certificate of a 63-year-old solicitor who said he wanted to recover his “pride and dignity”.
Work begins on whiplash portal ‘mixed claims’ test cases
Claimant and insurer representatives have begun work on developing test cases to take to the Court of Appeal for claims that involve both whiplash and non-whiplash injuries.
