Lord Chief Justice highlights concern over focus on consumer interest in legal regulation
The outgoing Lord Chief Justice today outlined the judiciary’s “nascent concern” that the public interest too often gives way to the consumer interest in legal services regulation. The comments by Lord Thomas echo those of the incoming president of the Supreme Court, Baroness Hale earlier this year.
Solicitor who overcharged by 574% struck off
A solicitor has been struck off after being found by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to have dishonestly charged an estate “manifestly excessive” fees for probate work – almost nine times the agreed amount. The solicitor had told the executor he would charge 3% of the estate but ended up charging 26%.
SRA issues holiday sickness claims warning as it probes 31 firms for referral ban breaches
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned law firms that they are not doing enough to weed out “false or dubious” holiday sickness claims and that some are engaging in shady practices like encouraging clients to delete evidence. It is also investigating 31 firms over potentially improper referral arrangements with claims management companies.
Conveyancing work falls to lowest level in three years
Conveyancing work has fallen to its lowest level since the middle of 2013, and the number of firms actively doing the work hit a new low, a survey has found. While the top five firms have been “insulated” from the lull in the market, the smallest operators outside the top 1,000 conveyancing practice have suffered the most.
“People die of food poisoning” – misleading holiday claims advert pulled after watchdog ruling
A claims management company has withdrawn a YouTube advert designed to generate holiday sickness claims after the Advertising Standards Authority ruled that it was misleading. It is the latest front in the battle against sickness claims being waged by ABTA, which lodged the complaint.
Report: “huge unmet legal need for unbundled services across the board”
There is a massive demand for unbundled – or limited scope – legal services, not just in famiy law but in almost all areas of legal practice, according to a report into unbundling. Lawyers’ nervousness about possible professional negligence risks associated with unbundling meant a “structured framework within which to practice” was worthwhile to encourage their participation.
Machine learning could help clients understand wills, software entrepreneur claims
Machine learning could be used to explain even the most complicated and obscure wills in plain English, a software entrepreneur has predicted. He said another development over the coming years could be the use of chatbots to handle routine enquiries.
Court of Appeal criticises firms that persuade clients to bring PI undersettlement claims
The Court of Appeal has criticised law firms which attract clients through adverts which suggest their previous solicitors may have undersettled personal injury claims. It also said there should be “a sensible limit” on what should be expected of a solicitor operating on a fixed fee in a “high volume, low cost commoditised scheme”.
Paralegal wins employment tribunal claim for £14,000 bonus from personal injury firm
A paralegal employed by a personal injury firm under an oral contract was entitled to a bonus payment worth almost £14,000, an employment tribunal has ruled. The judge said the firm could not unilaterally vary the contract that entitled the paralegal to up to 10% of profit costs above a target set at five times his gross salary.
Tribunal urges SRA to reconsider advice on solicitors entering sexual relationships with clients
The Solicitors Regulation Authority should reconsider the advice it gives to solicitors who enter into sexual relationships with clients, a tribunal has said as it fined one £8,500 for the conflict of interest such a relationship caused. He was twice told by the SRA’s ethics helpline that the only issue was whether he could provide independent and impartial advice.
