“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A claims management company has withdrawn a YouTube advert designed to generate holiday sickness claims after the Advertising Standards Authority ruled that it was misleading.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.
Solicitors first in negligence firing line over escalating ground rent clauses, barrister warns
The furore over ground rents that double periodically is likely to lead to a “swell” in negligence claims against conveyancers, who will be “first in the firing line”, a barrister has warned. He said these leases also often have other clauses which may be considered unreasonable and so pose a negligence risk.
AI-backed start-up “will make communication between clients and lawyers easier”
A law student has become the latest entrepreneur to try and crack the problem of how to use online technology to improve the experience of consumers wanting to contact lawyers to solve their legal problems at a reasonable cost. Legista is a platform that will use artificially intelligent software to understand their matter and locate the right lawyer to deal with it.
Gateley: Being a PLC will help protect us from Brexit uncertainty
National law firm Gateley has told investors that its decision to list on the London Stock Exchange will help it withstand potential economic uncertainty caused by Brexit. Its annual report also showed that finance director Neil Smith was the top earner among the senior management in the year to 30 April 2017.
Jail for legal clerk who stole £300k of client money to fund expensive lifestyle
A long-serving clerk at a Stockport law firm and her husband have been jailed after more than £300,000 was syphoned from the firm and spent on cars and a boat among other extravagances. Rachel Swettenham, 54, pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position and was sentenced to four years in prison.
