Innovation by general counsel brings “massive savings in lawyer time”
Efficiency innovations implemented by in-house counsel at just five big companies – such as artificially intelligent (AI) contract review – have brought annual savings totalling more than half a million hours of lawyer time, according to new guide. Similar savings were being made by legal departments in thousands of other companies globally, it said, driving change in law firms that have traditionally relied on the work.
Exclusive: Paralegal bodies split by “irreconcilable differences” as regulator pushes for expansion
One of the two paralegal bodies which developed the Professional Paralegal Register (PPR) to act as a voluntary regulator for the sector, has decided to pull out after only two years, it has emerged. The National Association of Licensed Paralegals withdrew this summer, citing “irreconcilable differences” over the values and purpose of the PPR.
Insurer issues warning to profession after it uncovers solicitor’s dishonesty
Insurance giant Allianz has warned the legal profession that its effort to clamp down on fraud will not stop at policyholders, after its investigations led to a solicitor being struck off for falsifying signatures on witness statements.
Ministry of Justice staff lay out their complaints, with significant levels of discrimination and bullying
One in seven civil servants at the Ministry of Justice claim that they have faced discrimination in their job, and one in eight say they have been bullied or harassed. The figures from its annual “people survey” show that the department performs worse than the average across government on all measures.
SRA removes both 80-year-old solicitor and “dishonest” trainee from profession
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has removed from the profession two people at opposite ends of their careers – an 80-year-old solicitor who held unpaid disbursements in his office account, and a trainee solicitor who used client money to try and hide her mistakes.
Forcing law firms to publish prices could make consumers focus just on cost, Law Society warns
Forcing law firms to publish prices could “bias” clients in favour of choosing their solicitor on price rather than quality or consumer protection, the Law Society has warned. It came with research commissioned by the society that suggested that once consumers understood that some legal services providers were unregulated, they were strongly put off them.
Survey highlights communication gap between conveyancers and their clients
Almost half of conveyancing clients complain of a lack of communication during the process, while two-thirds of conveyancers believe they keep consumers fully informed, a survey has found. Some conveyancers are finding ways of bridging the gap, with the proportion using online portals growing from 4% to 15% in three years.
Supreme Court opens way for barrister to sue BSB for race discrimination
The Supreme Court has given the green light to a barrister to bring a claim of racial discrimination against the Bar Standards Board, by overturning a decision that her case was brought out of time. Portia O’Connor, who is black, was the first barrister to become a partner in a legal disciplinary partnership.
Slater & Gordon to avoid insolvency after shareholders accept hedge fund takeover
Slater & Gordon is set to avoid insolvency after nearly 70% of shareholders approved a recapitalisation plan which will see its senior lenders – led by American hedge fund Anchorage Capital – take control in a debt-for-equity deal.
LSB to investigate regulatory risks of AI as it promises to act as “agent of change” in legal market
The Legal Services Board is to launch a project to investigate the regulatory implications of the latest technology, including artificial intelligence. It has also promised to be “an agent of change” for the legal services sector, encourage innovation by identifying measures to remove barriers to entry to the legal market and also stimulate competition.
