Overseas model for Briggs’ online court goes live
The online small claims court expected to be the model for England and Wales was launched in Canada last week when the Act moving it from voluntary to mandatory claims came into force. The value threshold for claims will eventually will rise to those up to C$25,000 (£14,610).
Jail for cashier at major City firm who stole nearly £750,000 in FX fraud
A cashier who took nearly £750,000 from City law firm Ince & Co’s office account has been jailed for more than three years. Juliette Holland, 46, from Hockley, Essex pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment at Basildon Crown Court.
Fairpoint trains focus on “higher-growth, lower-margin” legal services business
AIM-listed Fairpoint Group is set to become almost entirely a legal services business after announcing that it will stop offering debt management plans – which was once a key part of its business. It said that from next year the group would focus on its “higher-growth legal services segment”.
Lawyer-matching service aims to recruit 20,000 clients, says solicitor founder
A lawyer-matching service to be launched by a Manchester solicitor next month aims to recruit 15,000 to 20,000 clients by the end of the year. Kid Harwood, director of Lawbid, said the service wanted to change the “balance of power” for consumers.
Solicitor who let wife make improper transfers from firm’s client account is suspended
A solicitor who allowed his wife to make improper transfers from his firm’s client account has been suspended by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Cartwright King to launch franchise scheme for solicitors looking to strike out on their own
National law firm Cartwright King is launching a franchise scheme for solicitors who want to set up their own practices, which will operate in a similar way to a virtual firm but allow franchisees to benefit from an existing national brand.
Fine for solicitor who signed blank claim form and statement of truth
An immigration solicitor who signed a statement of truth on a blank claim form which was then accidentally passed to a claimant who used it to launch a judicial review, has been fined by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. She had been referred for investigation by the president of the Queen’s Bench Division, Sir Brian Leveson.
City lobbying group: Maintaining UK’s leadership in global legal market should be Brexit priority
Major law firms should partner with the government “to ramp up efforts to export UK legal and regulatory standards to emerging markets” as a way to boost trade and investment post-Brexit, leading lobbying group TheCityUK said today.
Gateley “seeing the benefits” of being UK’s first listed law firm
Gateley is seeing the benefits of being the first UK-listed law firm, its chairman said today as it announced record turnover. Revenue increased 10.2% to £67.1m in the year to 30 April 2016, with profit before tax up 12.2% to £11m. As a result shareholders are to see a final dividend of 3.764p.
Vara leaves Ministry of Justice as law officer ‘helps out’ in upper house
Shailesh Vara has left government, leaving the Ministry of Justice with three junior ministers – down from six before the reshuffle. Downing Street announced today that law officer Lord Keen of Elie QC will speak on MoJ business in the Lords. Former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer also today attacked the appointment of Liz Truss.
