Barrister who “abused position” by threatening to sue dentist loses appeal against misconduct finding
The High Court has rejected by an appeal by a barrister against a finding of a Bar disciplinary tribunal that he abused his position by threatening to sue a dentist. He also tried to “fortify” his threat by telling the dentist that he was a barrister, mediator and medical negligence expert “and asserting that he would win the case”.
Law firm’s joint venture CMC sparks PI competition by undercutting market on success fees
A claims management company set up as a joint venture between a law firm and two non-lawyer investors is looking to start competition in the personal injury market by offering clients success fees of 15%. Quittance promises to absorb other costs.
Big firms “recognise the threat” of market disruptors, but not many are responding to it
Most of the top 100 law firms now recognise ‘the need to respond to the digital age’ in the face of market disruptors, but less than a quarter have actually done so, accountants PwC have found.
Ban all payments to instructing solicitors so as to defeat the “charlatans”, says Bar Council chair
There are no depths to the “ingenious means by which these charlatans would seek to dress up their referral fees”, the chairman of the Bar Council has said as he attacked the “grubby and squalid” back-handers paid by some barristers in exchange for work from solicitors.
Cyber criminals caused “substantial losses” to 50 law firms this year, SRA says
Cyber criminals have caused “substantial losses” to 50 law firms this year, ranging from £50,000 to £2m, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said. The regulator said a further 20 firms had fallen victim to email redirection scams.
Public takes a dimmer view of misconduct by senior solicitors than fellow professionals, research finds
Members of the public would take a stricter line on senior solicitors who err in their private lives than would solicitors themselves, research has suggested. The public would also be kinder to young lawyers, according to the findings from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
A record £570,000 fine and premises searched – regulator clamps down on CMCs
The Claims Management Regulator has handed out its biggest fine to date – £570,000 – and raided the offices of three other claims management companies as it tries to crack down on bad practices in the sector.
Exclusive: Blame game after MoJ officials wrongly tell MPs that ex-chief ombudsman was sacked
Ministry of Justice (MoJ) officials were wrong to tell MPs this week that the former Chief Legal Ombudsman, Adam Sampson, was dismissed from his post. The MoJ has sought to blame the Office of Legal Complaints – the board that oversees the Legal Ombudsman service – for the error.
Philip: If it’s a new law firm, it should be an ABS
There is no reason why solicitors setting up a new law firm should not do so as an alternative business structure, the chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said. Mr Philip predicted that solicitors would in the future be ” business people first”.
“Don’t connect with strangers on LinkedIn”, social media specialist tells lawyers
Lawyers should not connect on LinkedIn with anyone they have not met or already communicated with, a social media specialist has warned in the wake of the controversy that followed barrister Charlotte Proudman tweeting a comment made to her on LinkedIn.
