SRA: No abuse of process to discipline solicitor found in breach of undertaking by court
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has rebuked and fined £2,000 a solicitor already found by the High Court to be in breach of an undertaking, rejecting the argument that this was an abuse of process.
Online road traffic offences pioneer to launch private client service
A solicitor and online legal services pioneer who developed the first automated system for clients to send briefs to counsel, is launching a private client service this summer that “enables people to pick and choose the legal services they need and want to pay for”.
More IT woe for judicial appointment candidates puts integrity of process “in doubt”
The integrity and reliability of the high-profile process to recruit 100 recorders are “in doubt” after applicants suffered yet more IT problems, the chairman of the Criminal Bar Association has warned. Last month, the Judicial Appointments Commission’s website crashed as 2,500 solicitors and barristers tried to take an online qualifying test.
Clients are drawn to the advice more than the adviser, says Susskind
The days of lawyers as trusted advisers are numbered because a reliable outcome to their issue is more important to clients than a relationship with their lawyer, Professor Richard Susskind has claimed. He also expressed concern about the impact of Brexit on the UK maintaining its focus on a period of unprecedented technological progress.
SRA decision to hold board meetings in private “may breach Legal Services Act”
The decision by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to close its meetings to public and press scrutiny appears to be contrary to its obligations under the Legal Services Act 2007, a leading regulatory solicitor has said. He argued that the SRA is now facing a “crucial credibility test”.
Bar Council warns barristers against “bending the truth” in online marketing
The Bar Council has warned barristers about “bending the truth” when making claims on a personal or chambers website and said they must be able to support claims that they are one of the best in their field.
ABS hopes to build up consumer brand covering 14 types of claim
A high street law firm has obtained an alternative business structure licence as part of a strategy to build up its Refund You website-based consumer brand, which covers 14 areas of claims, from personal injury and financial mis-selling to timeshares and cavity wall insulation.
Legal market growth forecasts revised downwards as research finds it contracted in 2016
The value of the UK legal services market fell last year and there will only be modest growth over the next two years, with uncertainty over Brexit a contributing factor to researchers downgrading their forecasts, a new report has revealed. Large law firms have continued to see revenue growth, but medium and small firms have been hit.
Firm that made 22m automated marketing calls in PI and other fields fined £270,000
A company that made 22 million nuisance calls has been fined £270,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office, one of the highest penalties it has ever levied for such an offence. It comes amid disappointment that this week’s Budget contained no mention of a ban on cold-calling in personal injury.
AXA teams up with ABS in bid to “disrupt delivery of legal advice” with machine-learning app
AXA Insurance has teamed up with alternative business structure rradar to launch what they call “a world first in legal and risk advice”, powered by IBM Watson technology. ‘Grace’ is described as “a machine learning-driven app which engages businesses directly with a virtual assistant to deliver the knowledge and experience of legal and risk management experts”.
