Only 6% of consumers can find prices on lawyers’ websites – panel turns up heat on transparency
The Legal Services Consumer Panel today ratcheted up the pressure on regulators to impose transparency requirements on lawyers with survey findings that only 6% of consumers could find prices on their websites. The panel’s annual tracker survey described a sector “which is slow to respond to consumer need”.
BSB presses ahead with compulsory registration of youth court barristers
The Bar Standard Board has decided to introduce compulsory registration of youth court barristers, despite fierce opposition from the Bar Council. However, it shied away from demanding compulsory training, arguing that the market for youth advocacy was too “fragile” for additional regulation.
Slater & Gordon tells shareholders: Accept refinancing plan or we will go bust
The alternative to Slater & Gordon’s proposed recapitalisation is insolvency, the company has told creditors and shareholders as it seeks approval of the plan, which would see the debt of the newly separate UK arm slashed. However, shareholders would see their ownership of the company almost wiped out.
SRA: Men six times more likely to be partners than BAME women
White male solicitors are almost six times more likely to become a partner than women from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background, research commissioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority has concluded. This was particularly because large corporate firms account for nearly 70% of partners in England and Wales.
AI crunches lawyers in case prediction challenge
A ground-breaking battle between lawyers and artificial intelligence has ended in a comfortable victory for AI. Lawyers had a week to predict whether real PPI complaints were upheld or rejected by the Financial Ombudsman, using their own resources and unlimited time, before AI got to work.
High Court grants injunction to stop former in-house solicitor acting against ex-employer
The High Court has granted an injunction restraining a former in-house solicitor from acting in proceedings against her former employer, saying that even if she was aware of the danger of disclosing confidential information, she might still subconsciously use it.
Solicitor struck off after pocketing cash payments and failing to declare them to firm
An experienced solicitor has been struck off after dishonestly pocketing cash payments from clients, claiming he was recouping money owed to him by the firm at which he was a consultant. He attended clients’ homes to draft wills, bringing his wife along as a witness, and sought – and obtained – payments in cash.
“Complete backing” for not extending cab-rank rule to public access work
The cab-rank rule will not be extended to public and licensed access (PLA) cases after the Bar Standards Board received complete backing for the position in consultation. Feedback has also led it to drop plans for a requirement that PLA barristers disclose of the level of their professional indemnity insurance.
Solicitors “target of money launderers but not terrorists” says government as it warns of legal innovation risk
Legal services continue to be at high risk of attracting criminals intent on money laundering, but are not considered to be a target for terrorist financing, according to the latest government assessment, which also warned that innovation in the legal sector could provide criminals with new opportunities.
Government in unexpected u-turn on CMC cold-calling ban
The government has unexpectedly reversed its opposition to a ban on cold-calling by claims management companies. Minister Baroness Buscombe said: “We have already committed to ban cold calls relating to pensions, and are minded to bring forward similar action in relation to the claims management industry.”
