Exclusive: Relate to launch UK’s first divorce ODR system
The first online dispute resolution (ODR) system for divorcing and separating couples in the UK is to be launched by Relate next spring. Relate has received no government funding for the project, and instead relied on a number of sources, including Google.
Jailed solicitor who stole from estates struck off for “disgraceful” behaviour
Simon Armitage, a sole practitioner jailed for four years in October for fraud, has been struck off in his absence by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Although the solicitor had wished to come off the roll voluntarily, it was “in the public interest” for his misconduct to be “aired before the tribunal”.
Two out and two in once again – SRA maintains City bias on its board
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has again maintained the City bias on its board with its latest batch of appointments. Like last year, two City solicitor members have left the board and been replaced with two more – one from magic circle firm Freshfields and the other in-house at ITV.
PI firm blames Autumn Statement as it suspends construction of “iconic” £8m building
Personal injury firm Asons has suspended building work on an “iconic” £8m new office in Bolton and announced a restructuring programme in response to chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement. The firm said it wanted to focus on “shoring up its defences”.
Law Society “must be held to account” over collapse of Veyo
The Law Society “must be held to account” for the collapse of conveyancing portal Veyo, the founder of the Bold Legal Group has said. Rob Hailstone accused the society of “hiding the truth about its mismanagement”.
Big firms prefer bank lending to new forms of external finance, survey shows
The finance directors of large law firms prefer to stick with more traditional forms of funding for their practices that do not involve accepting external investment, new research has indicated.
Earnings of criminal legal aid barristers fall 8% in two years
The fee income of Crown Court legal aid barristers from the Advocated Graduated Fee Scheme has fallen by 8% in the last two years, new figures have shown. The figures do not include QCs.
More bad news from Slater & Gordon, with UK problems set to hit profits
Slater & Gordon has withdrawn its predictions for the current financial year, saying profit is likely to be hit as a result of “slower than expected” case settlements in the UK. The problems are in the main S&G practice, along with the noise-induced hearing loss portfolio bought by the firm from Quindell.
Solicitors should forget about “perfection”, City training chief says
Solicitors should abandon the concept of “perfection” and concentrate instead on improving their performance, a City training chief has said. The legal learning leader at Hogan Lovells said the firm was one of the first big practices to opt into the new non-point based CPD regime introduced in April.
LeO to get new performance plan next year as it falls even further behind on targets
The Office for Legal Complaints is to put in place a new performance plan for the Legal Ombudsman next year to tackle falling standards, it has emerged. Steve Green, chair of the OLC, promised things would be on an “upward trajectory” next year.
