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.
Charity outlines worries about LiPs navigating new claims portal
The charity dedicated to supporting litigants in person has expressed serious concerns about the new Official Injury Claim portal and called for more funding for legal support organisations.
Tribunal rejects solicitor’s plea to end indefinite suspension
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has refused to terminate an indefinite suspension imposed on a solicitor a decade ago, saying he had not proved he was ready to return to practise.
Black solicitors occupying senior roles is “key to success”
One-off training sessions and wellbeing schemes do not go far enough to ensure diversity and inclusion, and nothing short of ethnic minority lawyers occupying senior roles in firms will show real change.
