Solicitor ordered to repay small part of legal aid fraud proceeds
A solicitor and her partner who defrauded a law firm and the Legal Aid Agency of almost £95,000 in a translation scam will have to repay just £5,584, a court decided last week.
“Massively busy” ABS plans further growth
An alternative business structure which launched as a specialist conveyancing firm with three staff in March 2019 is aiming to hit 50 staff across a range of practice areas by the end of 2021.
Transparency “will cure ills” of conveyancing referral fees
Transparency over referral fees in conveyancing work will drive out bad practice, a government official said yesterday, while also calling for greater consistency in how law firms publish their prices.
Barristers aim to end “shocking” lack of diversity on Western Circuit
A group of barristers has launched a bid to end what they describe as a “shocking” lack of diversity on the Western Circuit, where none of the full-time circuit judges are from BAM) backgrounds.
Barristers sanctioned for misconduct while working as or for solicitors
Two barristers who have faced the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal have now been sanctioned by the Bar’s counterpart, with one being disbarred and the other reprimanded.
UK innovation body seeks to boost legal sector in global AI competition
A government-backed body is directing funds towards AI products that it hopes will help make the UK the world’s leading developer of high-tech innovations in legal services.
MIB signals that whiplash reforms will go ahead in April
The MIB has given the clearest signal yet that the whiplash reforms will go ahead next April as it announced plans to undertake a third phase of consumer testing of the new portal.
Lord Chancellor rails against lawyers who “vaunt political views” online
The Lord Chancellor yesterday told lawyers who “vaunt their political views” on social media to raise their profile and attract work that they are giving the profession a bad name.
SRA beefs up NDA guidance to highlight conduct concerns
The SRA has revised its guidance on NDAs to make clear that it is concerned about the conduct of practitioners advising on and negotiating them, as well as the terms of the agreement.
Black barristers report high levels of discrimination by judiciary
More Black barristers have reported experiencing racism from judges, magistrates and panel members than from other lawyers, a report has found.
