Barrister “threatened police with kitchen knife”
A barrister convicted of common assault after threatening police officers with a kitchen knife has been reprimanded and fined £500 by the Bar Standards Board.
Asylum lawyers “suffering from emotional toll” of work
Cuts to legal aid and the stigmatisation of clients seeking asylum arising from Brexit have added to the emotional toll suffered by those lawyers practising in the field, research has found.
Written pupillage agreements may help counter “shocking abuse”
Requiring chambers to enter into written agreements with pupils may help to counter “shocking” instances of abusive treatment, the Bar Council has said.
ABS conversion allows daughters to keep mother’s firm going
A trainee legal executive and her practice manager sister have taken over the law firm owned by their mother after her death, by restructuring it as an alternative business structure.
Cross-regulator IP law firm merger breaks new ground
A law firm regulated by the Intellectual Property Regulation Board has merged with one regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, in what is believed to be the first deal of its kind.
Slater & Gordon returns to profit after years of turbulence
Slater & Gordon – the first law firm owned by a hedge fund – made a small profit in its first year of independence from its one-time Australian parent, it revealed yesterday.
CA: Judge wrong to discharge jury over barrister’s closing speech
A judge was wrong to discharge the jury in a criminal trial after “inappropriate” remarks by the defence barrister in his closing speech, the Lord Chief Justice has ruled.
Court strikes out “incomprehensible” claim against law firm
The High Court has struck out a claim for professional negligence, breach of contract and fiduciary duty made against a central London law firm which was based on “incomprehensible pleadings”.
Solicitor taken in by “Pope’s banker” fails to remove PC conditions
A solicitor convicted of a money laundering offence after being taken in by a charismatic conman posing as the Pope’s banker has failed in a bid to remove the conditions from her practising certificate.
Law Society warns of £3.5bn hit from no-deal Brexit
The Law Society is warning that turnover from legal services would slump by £3.5bn in the event of a no-deal Brexit. It was particularly concerned about the fate of future UK lawyers.
