Firm sent letters with Latin phrases despite client’s learning difficulty
A law firm sent a vulnerable client letters full of Latin and technical phrases, despite being repeatedly told the client had a learning difficulty and needed communications to be in plain English, according to the Legal Ombudsman.
DWF float: “Haircut” for partners but free shares for staff
The partners of DWF will “take a haircut” following its proposed stock market listing, but staff will receive free shares as part of the plan to widen equity participation, its chief executive has said.
LSB closes Law Society investigation after censure prompts reform
The Legal Services Board has closed its investigation into the Law Society’s governance arrangements – which led to an unprecedented public censure last year – after a series of reforms.
Clients’ focus on price is compromising us, say solicitors
Solicitors at smaller firms believe that clients’ focus on price is compromising their work and even their ability to uphold the law, a survey has suggested.
Global lawtech study questions long-term impact of hackathons
Technology in use around the word to help ordinary people exercise their legal rights is often only effective after false starts, while many hackathons do not see follow-through, according to a massive global study.
Slimmed-down Bar transparency regime to go live in May
The Bar Standards Board has curbed some of the areas where public access barristers will have to provide price transparency as it named May 2019 as the start-date for the new regime.
“A new type of law firm” is needed to tackle PI reforms
A “new type of law firm is needed” to respond to next year’s PI reforms, National Accident Helpline has said as it confirmed its new ABS would open in April. Also news from Anexo, Watchstone and S&G.
Knights on the march with fourth deal and soaring share price
Knights has unveiled its fourth acquisition in the eight months since it listed with a £10m deal to buy Oxfordshire firm BrookStreet des Roches and saw its share price soar as a result.
DWF unveils plan for blockbuster stock market listing
Top-25 law firm DWF unveiled its long-anticipated plan to float today, and will be the first law firm to list on the main London Stock Exchange. DWF is thought to be looking to raise £50-100m.
Solicitor put “financial gain for family” before clients
A solicitor who let her daughter live rent-free in a probate property amid a string of offences – including allowing a client to make her a beneficiary of their will – has been struck off.
