Legal services market huge but “hard for investors to access”
The first ever investor conference aimed at the business of law in a listed environment has heard that while investment opportunities in the legal sector are limited, the sheer value of assets makes it attractive. The broker which organised it said: “We remain convinced that we will see more legal services businesses using a listing over time.”
Lord Chief Justice emphasises vital role of law schools in face of education reforms
The Lord Chief Justice has signalled concerns about the impending reform to educating law students, saying that a “very broadly based legal education” and law schools “as the centres of excellence” must not be diluted. Lord Thomas said the start of a legal career “must be at law school”.
SRA should be wary of “litigation tactics disguised as conduct complaints” after ‘400 Club’ ruling
A Court of Appeal ruling this week that exonerated claimant personal injury solicitors of gaming the system for low-value road traffic accident claims is also evidence that the Solicitors Regulation Authority needs to take more care when dealing with complaints by parties to litigation, it was argued yesterday.
ABS combining law, accountancy, finance, HR and more aims to be “doubly disruptive”
A one-stop shop for SMEs launched this week has set itself the goal of changing both the way legal and financial services are delivered and the way professionals work. By employing a “doubly disruptive philosophy”, it might be possible to break free not only of traditional business models but of traditional labels such as lawyer or accountant, the firm says.
QC reprimanded for “offensive” remarks in court about abuse victim
A barrister who claims to be a “master strategist and tactician” was reprimanded last week for making “offensive” comments about a child abuse victim while her mother sat in court. He said the 16-year-old “was not a young and innocent girl” as he represented her attacker in the Court of Appeal.
In-house lawyers “reluctant” to embrace technology
In-house lawyers have been significantly slower to adopt technology than their counterparts in business, according to a prominent legal technology innovator. Former in-house lawyer D Casey Flaherty, an advisor to Dentons’ lawtech incubator NextLaw Labs, said lawyers as a group were “reluctant” to embrace technology
Labour lays out plan to “widen access” to justice system
There are many improvements that can be made both to the law and to court processes to ensure that justice is not simply “the preserve of the rich”, the Labour Party said today as Jeremy Corbyn unveiled its manifesto for next month’s election. It included pledges to widen legal aid eligibility and introduce no-fault divorce.
What’s in a name? Appeal judges reject pleas of claimant who sued wrong firm
Appeal judges have rejected the pleas of a claimant who, faced by two law firms with similar names set up by the same solicitor, sued the wrong one. The court heard how Godfrey Morgan Solicitors and Godfrey Morgan Solicitors Limited were run “in parallel, as distinct businesses”.
Mishcon incubator backs “ambitious” global lawtech startups
The technology incubator of London law firm and alternative business structure Mishcon de Reya has chosen six lawtech companies for investment from a shortlist of 19 startups that pitched last month. Two are based in the UK, with the remainder coming from Germany, the US, and India.
In-house lawyers value responsiveness and understanding above price
In-house lawyers have ranked responsiveness and understanding of their businesses above price as the qualities they most look for when choosing external law firms. One legal counsel at an investment fund said he was “shocked at the poor service we sometimes get” and “often dumbfounded by the poor level of responsiveness”.
