App aimed at automating divorce process looks forward to UK market entry
The UK is in the sights of a Canadian company that has developed an app aimed at simplifying the divorce process for self-represented couples, including automated completion of divorce application forms and the documents needed to make a separation agreement.
Solicitors call for Online Court to have lower £10,000 limit
The London Litigation Solicitors Association and the Law Society are pushing for a lower £10,000 limit for cases in the Online Court. In his interim report, Lord Justice Briggs proposed a limit of £25,000. The LSLA said that there should be fixed or capped costs for litigation between £10,000 and £25,000.
Slater & Gordon unveils huge losses, with offices and jobs at risk in UK “reorganisation”
Slater & Gordon is to conduct a major restructuring of its UK operation – with office closures and redundancies on the cards – after it unveiled an eye-watering loss of £493m for the six months ending 31 December 2015. The loss was mainly attributable to a write-down of goodwill arising from its acquisition of Quindell, but also underperformance of the entire UK operation.
Exclusive: government indicates that Law Society will lose practising fee funding
The Ministry of Justice has given its strongest indication yet that, once the legal regulators become independent, lawyers will no longer be compelled to make a financial contribution to their representative bodies.
Solicitor who “exploited” criminal client is struck off
A solicitor who “exploited” a criminal client who he met in a pub by acting as advocate without authorisation and demanding a £65,000 loan has been struck off. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard that Stephen Paul Kettlewell failed to repay the loan.
SRA: We want to be accountable to Parliament, not the Law Society
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has asked the House of Commons’ justice select committee to assume responsibility for holding it to account once independence from the Law Society has been achieved.
Ups and downs of listed law: major growth for NewLaw’s owner, but Countrywide Property Lawyers dips
Cardiff firm NewLaw yesterday confirmed that it is working with the Royal College of Nursing to launch an alternative business structure from 1 April. The news came with its owner, AIM-listed Redde plc, announcing big rises in income and profits for the second half of 2015.
Online tool enables law firms “to recruit youngsters like football teams sign junior talent”
Global law firms could in future recruit teenagers to their brands like football teams sign up junior apprentices, if an online recruitment platform that is targeting large employers takes off. The founders claim to be in advanced talks with magic circle law firms about adopting it.
Judiciary proposes fee ban and new name for McKenzie Friends
England and Wales should follow the example of Scotland in banning McKenzie Friends from charging fees, the Judicial Executive Board has proposed. The board also said that McKenzie Friends should be renamed “court supporters”.
Trainee legal executive fined £2,000 by SRA for taking £24,000 from client account
A trainee legal executive has been fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for taking almost £24,000 from his law firm’s client account. BRM Solicitors said Joseph Aaron Cooper had betrayed its trust.
