Solicitor who failed to provide breath test is fined
A solicitor convicted of failing to provide police with a breath test has been fined £2,500 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Arguing that there was no case to answer, Olufemi Olujinmi said regulation should have a “human face” and the incident should be treated as a “moment of madness”.
Faulks holds firm on PI reforms but promises to “hold insurers’ feet to the fire” on lower premiums
The government consultation on further reforms to personal injury will not be published until after the EU referendum and will be implemented in 2017, the civil justice minister indicated today as he gave no ground on the measures to be put forward.
“Massive space” for unregulated firms to advise SMEs, says head of online service
The founder of an unregulated law firm offering advice to SMEs has said there is a “massive space” for similar companies to move into the market. Robert Taylor, founder of Business Law Online, said small businesses wanted a “much more commercial” approach.
Crowdfunder attempts to support legal projects as well as cases
Crowdjustice, the legal crowdfunding platform, has launched its first funding project, as opposed to a specific case, and has already raised half of the target amount needed by a legal support charity from a corporate sponsor.
Banks agree to give Slater & Gordon breathing space
Slater & Gordon saw its share price double yesterday after its banks gave the alternative business structure breathing space to turn the business around. The firm said it considered the lenders’ agreement to change the terms of its borrowing to be “a positive and clear endorsement of the company’s performance improvement program”.
Solicitors who borrowed from Axiom fund to keep firm afloat did not misuse money, says SDT
Two solicitors accused of misusing £573,000 lent to their law firm by the controversial Axiom Legal Financing Fund have been cleared by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal – in part because they relied on assurances given to them by Richard Barnett, who was subsequently struck off himself for misusing Axiom money.
One in five law firms targeted by scammers in past year, Law Society research reveals
More than one in five law firms have been targeted by scammers in the past year, Law Society research has revealed. Money was successfully stolen from client account in 8% of these cases. However the society’s annual indemnity survey found that average premiums paid by firms with up to 25 partners were down by 8%.
Riverview launches first ‘virtual assistants’ to start process of reducing need for lawyers
Riverview Law’s ground-breaking development of technology for use by in-house counsel and others in the law this week saw the launch of its first two ‘virtual assistants’. Powered by the alternative business structure’s ‘Kim’ technology platform, they cover instruction and triage, and general case management.
‘NewLaw’ pioneer Blacklaws to take office at Law Society
Christina Blacklaws, who shot to prominence as director of policy at Co-operative Legal Services, has been elected as the next deputy vice-president of the Law Society. This means she should become president in July 2018, only the fifth woman to hold the chain of office in what will be, by then, the society’s 193-year history.
US law firm focused on divorcing men plots major UK expansion
The UK office of a major US law firm specialising in acting for men in divorce cases, is approaching its first anniversary with plans to expand into several UK cities. The Solicitors Regulation Authority initially “took an interest” in whether Cordell & Cordell discouraged women clients.
