Revealed: LeO ditches mediation initiative
The Legal Ombudsman has ditched plans to introduce mediation as another route to settling dispute between lawyers and their clients after a trial found limited interest.
Consumer panel and solicitors at odds over advocacy
The Legal Services Consumer Panel and Criminal Law Solicitors Association have both strongly criticised Solicitors Regulation Authority ideas to improve advocacy standards – but from opposite standpoints.
City firms’ presenteeism culture in the dock
The case of a City lawyer told that leaving work slightly early to pick up her children was setting a bad example, shows how the profession needs to work on changing the culture of presenteeism.
Supreme Court backs miner’s claim against solicitors
A miner who lost the chance of compensation due to the negligence of his solicitors is entitled to damages because later evidence indicating that he was not eligible was irrelevant, the Supreme Court has ruled.
Solicitor sanctioned for indemnity insurance breaches
A solicitor who practised without insurance has been spared an appearance before a disciplinary tribunal, in part because he was suffering from depression at the time.
ODR system gives “likely outcomes” for motor claims
The use by Singapore of an online dispute resolution (ODR) system which provides users with a “likely legal outcome” for motor claims has divided delegates at the 2019 International ODR Forum.
Barrister posted “misogynistic” comments on Facebook
A barrister suspended last month for offensive messages on Facebook posted one that was effectively a threat to kill a member of the public, it has emerged. They were also “misogynistic”.
“Mixed messages” from consumers on online conveyancing
Only 19% of home buyers use online conveyancers, despite the dominance of online searches as a way of finding property, new research has found.
Digital assets “are property” under English law
Blockchain and smart contracts were given a major boost yesterday, when the expert panel charged with giving the technology legal certainty declared they should be treated in principal as property.
Supreme Court judge calls for independent algorithm regulator
A Supreme Court justice has called for the creation of an expert commission to act as “a sort of independent regulator” of algorithms, staffed by coding technicians, with lawyers and ethicists.
