Small business group urges reform of legal system to deal better with disputes
Small businesses need a “beefed up” legal system that prevents disputes in the first place and resolves those that occur more, their representative body said today. This includes integrating the online court “seamlessly” with other courts, and a specialist commercial track in the small claims court.
‘Friday afternoon’ fraud cost profession at least £7m in past year, says SRA
E-mail hacks of conveyancing transactions are the most common cybercrime in the legal sector, with £7m of client losses reported in the last year, according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority. It said that three-quarters of cybercrimes reported to the SRA in the 12 months are some form of ‘Friday afternoon’ fraud.
Oversupply of law graduates and growing number of LiPs are solution to each other’s problem, says MR
The combination of an oversupply of law graduates shut out of the profession due to fewer training contracts or pupillages and the growing number of litigants in person offers an opportunity to enhance access to justice while helping students into practice, the Master of the Rolls has said. He also highlighted work being done to promote before-the-event insurance.
Solicitor agrees to leave profession for three years after assault conviction
A solicitor who did not report his conviction for assault to the Solicitors Regulation Authority has agreed to remove himself from the profession for three years. According to a regulatory settlement agreement published by the SRA, he also pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle while unfit.
Conveyancing chief calls on government to back post-Veyo portal as Land Registry unveils expansion plans
The chairman of the Conveyancing Association has called on the government to create a new portal to help fill the void left by the collapse of Veyo. Eddie Goldsmith said conveyancing consumers suffered from a “lack of knowledge” about the process and he would like to see a “government initiative” to create an information portal.
Gateley on the hunt for more non-legal acquisitions as it boosts partner share scheme
AIM-listed law firm Gateley is keen to explore acquisitions of further non-legal businesses, it said yesterday as it announced that the revenue in the six months to the end of October was up by almost 19% on the same period last year. It has also poured millions of shares into an incentive scheme for partners.
Cost of oversight regulator to profession set to fall again
The Legal Services Board is to reduce its cost to the profession to the lowest level since the oversight regulator was established in 2009. Its draft business plan for 2017/18, published yesterday for consultation, anticipated a £150,000 reduction on the current year’s budget to £3.85m.
Axiom fund claims victim number six as solicitor who “misused” £3m is struck off
A Hull solicitor has become the latest to be struck off after borrowing millions from the controversial Axiom Legal Financing Fund which have not been paid back. He drew down £3.15m of a £20m facility to prop up the firm, which accountants Baker Tilly had declared to be insolvent.
Government eyes online dispute resolution for employment cases
The government yesterday began laying the ground for the online resolution of certain employment disputes, in the first sector-specific example of plans to transform the justice system. It also set out greater uses of case officers among other recommendations of Lord Justice Briggs that are being adopted.
Law Society of Ireland reports “tsunami” of English solicitors seeking post-Brexit protection
Some 810 solicitors from England and Wales will have been admitted in Ireland by the end of 2016 to protect their status in a post-Brexit Europe, figures from Dublin have revealed. The Law Society of Ireland said there were few signs at the moment of any of them taking out practising certificates or their firms opening offices in the country.
