Law firm network launched by sole practitioners “to support smaller practices”
A law firm network was launched last month aimed at smaller practices and has already held two meetings, it has emerged. Hexagon Legal Network was set up by six sole practitioners, including a former Sole Practitioners Group chair, Kent solicitor Hilary Underwood.
“All to play for” on Civil Liability Bill, personal injury leaders say
Leading personal injury lawyers told yesterday’s PI Futures conference that there is “all to play for” on the Civil Liability Bill as a “nervous” governments seeks to avoid a damaging parliamentary defeat. Delegates were also urged to write to the Law Society to demand it take more action, and to MPs about the impact on access to justice.
Solicitor in jail for attempted murder of his wife handed indefinite suspension from practice
A solicitor jailed for the attempted murder of his wife while suffering from severe depression has been handed an indefinite suspension by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal due to the “wholly exceptional” circumstances of his case. Normally such an offence would lead to a strike-off.
BSB makes unprecedented public apology to QC over investigation failures
The Bar Standards Board issued an unprecedented public apology to a QC yesterday for the errors and delays it made in clearing him of misconduct. Welcoming the move, Khawar Qureshi QC outlined concerns about the potential for abuse of the BSB process to unfairly attack barristers.
SME law firms “not ready for marketing in 2017, let alone 2020”, survey finds
SME law firms are investing their marketing budgets in old-style strategies they know are often ineffective, rather than explore new technologies that are already taking hold in other sectors, according to research being launched at today’s PI Futures conference in Liverpool.
NAHL reports expected profits dip as it prepares for PI reforms
NAHL plc, the marketing and services business that owns National Accident Helpline, has announced a small dip in revenue and profits for the first half of 2017. The company warned investors last year that work to reshape its personal injury offering, in light of the upcoming government reforms, would lead to a temporary dampening of cash generation and profits.
Central storage of electronic bundles in family cases “will begin in early 2018”
HM Courts and Tribunals Service is to start hosting digital family court bundles centrally next year as part of its project to digitise the courts, it has emerged in a briefing sent to family judges. Moving from manual paper bundles to digital bundles in the family courts is widely seen as the best way to eliminate errors and reduce costs.
Law firm faces £68,000 VAT bill after tribunal rules electronic property search fees are not disbursements
A leading north-west law firm has been ordered to pay £68,000 in VAT for electronic local authority property searches it procured from an agency, after a tribunal ruled that they should not have been treated as disbursements. The case, in which the Law Society unsuccessfully intervened, could have significant repercussions for many conveyancing firms.
Law firm-incubated business launches AI contract review tech “60 times faster than paralegals”
A contract review technology company incubated by Cambridge-based law firm Taylor Vinters today launched an artificial intelligent product that it claims is on average 60 times faster and 30% cheaper than traditional paralegals.
Comparison website ramps up offering in time with Law Superstore deal
A legal comparison website has gone live with its bespoke platform with the demand for such services in flux. The relaunch of MyLegalAdviser comes in the wake of The Law Superstore being sold last month. It is the brainchild of Alex Boothman, a one-time private client solicitor.
