LegalZoom launches ‘digital will’ in first UK product roll-out
US legal technology giant LegalZoom has launched its first product since entering the UK market, a ‘digital will’ that it says will “revolutionise the way we think about and plan for our loved ones after our death”. The app enables users to make their will on their phone, and build a “digital scrapbook” to pass on along too.
Solicitor “embarrassed by wasted costs order” faked invoice to cover up payment
A solicitor who hid a wasted costs order against his firm by faking a fee invoice on another matter so as to create a surplus he used to pay it, has been struck off. He said he had been too embarrassed to admit the £1,500 wasted costs order to his managers.
SRA seeks help to encourage legal comparison websites
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has asked the Competition and Markets Authority for advice on how it could stimulate more use of comparison websites in the legal market, saying there was consumer demand for more of such tools to help consumers choose lawyers.
QualitySolicitors aims to double national coverage
QualitySolicitors is set to launch a new expansion drive in a bid to double the number of offices in the network to 200 as it looks to capitalise on its national coverage. It recently secured one national B2B contract with a well-known name and is also working on improving the other benefits firms receive.
Will writers strike bum note in bid to encourage uptake
The Society of Will Writers has launched a blunt campaign to encourage people to make a will, entitled ‘No will equals poo’. The visual featuring the poo emoji is accompanied by a short YouTube video that asks: “Do you want to be remembered only for the mess you leave behind?”
Third time unlucky for ‘named and shamed’ barrister as he is finally disbarred
Barrister Tariq Rehman, still the only lawyer to be ‘named and shamed’ by the Legal Ombudsman for his complaints record, has been disbarred after the third separate disciplinary tribunal in less than a month. He had previously been suspended and barred from accepting public access work.
Law firm under fire over office grant says: We’ve done nothing wrong
A Bolton law firm that has been under fire from politicians, local media and other solicitors for receiving a business grant from its local council to help with the renovation of new offices has insisted that it did nothing wrong. It also claimed to be the victim of a “smear campaign” by other solicitors.
Solicitor on hook for £4.65m losses caused by fraudulent partner fails in bid to have insurer pay
A solicitor whose law firm partner has gone to jail for four years for mortgage fraud has lost her bid to have the £4.65m losses being sought from her covered by the firm’s professional indemnity insurer, even though she was not alleged to have had any personal involvement in the frauds.
Notarial firm in ABS first
A notarial firm based in Norwich has become the first to be regulated as an alternative business structure by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The move was triggered by the decision to appoint its first non-notary employees earlier this year.
Cold calling, whiplash reform and IPT – Autumn Statement angers claimant lawyers
Claimant personal injury lawyers have been left questioning why the government was prepared to announced in yesterday’s Autumn Statement that it is to ban cold-calling in relation to pensions, but not to stop it in personal injury – and whether Chancellor Philip Hammond let slip that the whiplash reforms are already a done deal.
