SDT president: Concerns over civil standard of proof “misplaced”
Concerns over the decision of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to move from the criminal to the civil standard of proof are “misplaced”, the tribunal’s president has said.
Anger with MoJ over whiplash reforms begins to boil over
Both the claimant and defendant representatives have expressed frustration with the progress of the government’s whiplash reforms, and doubted it will be ready for April 2020 as planned.
Move to allow Scottish law firms to access external investment
Scottish law firms should be allowed to accept external investment, while the title of ‘lawyer’ should be protected, the Scottish government has indicated.
Susskind clashes with MPs on digital exclusion
Professor Richard Susskind, IT adviser to the Lord Chief Justice, clashed with MPs yesterday over whether the government’s court modernisation programme is doing enough to combat digital exclusion.
Bias still hindering women targeting partnership at big firms
Only 33% of new partners at Europe’s biggest law firms are women with bias from both male colleagues and male clients the main reason for gender imbalance, a report has found.
LSB agrees to limit price transparency to public access barristers
The Legal Services Board has approved Bar Standards Board plans which will require public access barristers, but not other self-employed barristers, to publish fees for routine legal services on their websites.
Peers back greater role for Lord Chief in online court rules
Former Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge yesterday defeated government efforts to limit the extent to which future holders of the post will have a veto over the work of the online procedure rule committee.
Global report: in-house teams “falling behind” on innovation
General counsel need to embrace technology and innovate in a “seismic” way if they are to endure an increasing bright spotlight from businesses eager to reduce their costs, a report from EY has argued.
Solicitor took £2m of client money in pursuit of “lottery win”
A former senior partner who plundered £2m from his firm’s client accounts as well as both private and charitable trusts after falling victim to a lottery scam has been thrown out of the profession.
Regulator considers cap on fees charged by personal injury CMCs
The Financial Conduct Authority is to explore whether to use its power to cap the fees charged by personal injury claims management companies, it has emerged.
