Video hearings “more likely to lead to convictions”
Video hearings in certain criminal cases are more likely to lead to defendants receiving a prison sentence, a major study has found. It also highlighted the difficulties they cause defence advocates.
Big firms “burning through” the little cash they have
Many of the country’s largest law firms are unprepared for the rate at which they are burning through cash during the Covid-19 pandemic, a review of their accounts has revealed.
Court hearings running at half pre-virus level
The courts and tribunals in England and Wales are now conducting almost half as many civil and criminal hearings as they did before the coronavirus crisis, a justice minister said yesterday.
MoJ pumps £5.4m into not-for-profit advice sector
The government has announced a £5.4m cash injection for law centres and other advice charities to help people with housing, debt, discrimination and employment problems during the Covid-19 crisis.
Barrister who “took advantage of BSB’s generosity” is suspended
A veteran barrister who “took advantage” of the Bar Standards Board by refusing to pay a fine for almost four years has been suspended for two months.
Mergers keep coming despite coronavirus crisis
The coronavirus crisis has not stopped a series of mergers taking place across the country in recent weeks, as well as specialist law firms starting up.
LSB to check random sample of disciplinary decisions
The Legal Services Board is planning to review a “random sample” of regulators’ disciplinary decisions to ensure the right processes and procedures are in place.
Arrested children may be given legal advice automatically
The government is considering whether children in police stations should have to opt out of receiving legal advice, rather than opt in as now, it has emerged.
Solicitor struck off for sub-letting council home
A solicitor convicted of illegally subletting his council flat knew “right from wrong” despite ill health and personal problems, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has found.
Partners fined for sitting on almost 1,000 residual balances
Four partners in a Welsh law firm have been fined for sitting on 979 residual balances, totalling over £468,000, for “lengthy periods of time” and where there had been no activity for six months.
