Professional negligence warning over PI, commercial and family work
Personal injury, commercial and family work will all fuel negligence claims against lawyers, insurance specialist BLM has warned in a white paper. It also predicted that a new source of claims could come from the “rapid pace of reform” in legal services, testing new systems and processes “to their limit”.
Riverview unveils technology behind ‘virtual assistants’
Riverview Law has unveiled the technology which will power a range of legal ‘virtual assistants’ it is preparing to launch next year. Riverview said ‘Kim’ was already being used outside the legal world.
LegalZoom makes its move with Beaumont Legal acquisition
US online legal services provider LegalZoom has made its much-anticipated move in the UK, announcing today that it is to acquire Yorkshire firm Beaumont Legal for its 2016 launch, with more deals potentially to come.
Demise of Veyo is “green light” for Free2Convey, LSSA chair says
The demise of the Law Society and Mastek’s online conveyancing portal Veyo gives the “green light” to rival system Free2Convey, the chair of the Legal Software Suppliers Association has said. Matt Lancaster said Free2Convey could now become the “central conveyancing portal”.
Soldier turned solicitor sets up ABS with former special forces officer
A soldier turned solicitor has set up an alternative business structure with a former special forces officer. Proelium Law aims to provide commercial law, international law and security advice to businesses and other organisations wanting to operate in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
Millions lost as Law Society and Mastek scrap Veyo
The Law Society and Indian technology giant Mastek have decided to scrap online conveyancing portal Veyo, at a cost to the profession which has so far been confirmed at more than £3m but is likely to be much higher. The society said it was “deeply sorry” that conveyancers who had “waited patiently” for the product would not be able to use it.
SRA to research competence of personal injury lawyers
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to launch a research project on the “competence” of personal injury lawyers, it has emerged. The research will examine the “decisions and processes implemented by firms to respond to legislative and market changes”.
Two solicitors rebuked for breaches of referral fee ban
Two personal injury solicitors have been sanctioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for breaches of the referral fee ban. One was rebuked and fined £2,000 – the most the regulator could levy without a referral to a disciplinary tribunal – while the other was simply rebuked.
Survey: Public want justice system to modernise faster to improve access
The public believes that the legal system should be modernised faster than is happening at present, with many feeling “the justice system has retained tradition at the expense of efficiency”, new research has found. Education about the law and legal process, and simplifying legal language were also keys to improving access to justice.
Separation would be better for both of us, SRA leaders tell Law Society
The leaders of the Solicitors Regulation Authority have made it clear that they believe it would be better for the public and the profession if they had complete independence from the Law Society. They were responding to the Treasury’s announcement earlier this week on independent regulation.
