Crowdfunder attempts to support legal projects as well as cases
Crowdjustice, the legal crowdfunding platform, has launched its first funding project, as opposed to a specific case, and has already raised half of the target amount needed by a legal support charity from a corporate sponsor.
Banks agree to give Slater & Gordon breathing space
Slater & Gordon saw its share price double yesterday after its banks gave the alternative business structure breathing space to turn the business around. The firm said it considered the lenders’ agreement to change the terms of its borrowing to be “a positive and clear endorsement of the company’s performance improvement program”.
Solicitors who borrowed from Axiom fund to keep firm afloat did not misuse money, says SDT
Two solicitors accused of misusing £573,000 lent to their law firm by the controversial Axiom Legal Financing Fund have been cleared by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal – in part because they relied on assurances given to them by Richard Barnett, who was subsequently struck off himself for misusing Axiom money.
One in five law firms targeted by scammers in past year, Law Society research reveals
More than one in five law firms have been targeted by scammers in the past year, Law Society research has revealed. Money was successfully stolen from client account in 8% of these cases. However the society’s annual indemnity survey found that average premiums paid by firms with up to 25 partners were down by 8%.
Riverview launches first ‘virtual assistants’ to start process of reducing need for lawyers
Riverview Law’s ground-breaking development of technology for use by in-house counsel and others in the law this week saw the launch of its first two ‘virtual assistants’. Powered by the alternative business structure’s ‘Kim’ technology platform, they cover instruction and triage, and general case management.
‘NewLaw’ pioneer Blacklaws to take office at Law Society
Christina Blacklaws, who shot to prominence as director of policy at Co-operative Legal Services, has been elected as the next deputy vice-president of the Law Society. This means she should become president in July 2018, only the fifth woman to hold the chain of office in what will be, by then, the society’s 193-year history.
US law firm focused on divorcing men plots major UK expansion
The UK office of a major US law firm specialising in acting for men in divorce cases, is approaching its first anniversary with plans to expand into several UK cities. The Solicitors Regulation Authority initially “took an interest” in whether Cordell & Cordell discouraged women clients.
After the doctors and nurses, now dentists get an ABS
A company that provides valuation, sales and other services to dentists has added legal advice to its offering with the launch of an alternative business structure. The aim is to make FTA Law “the largest provider of legal services” to the dental profession.
Growing ‘CEO fraud’ cybercrime “presents risk to law firms”
Law firms need to guard against the type of cybercrime called ‘CEO fraud’, according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The fraud involves spoof e-mails apparently sent in the name of a senior manager to accounts staff authorising urgent cash transfers.
‘Harry Potter’ solicitor fails in challenge to Law Society’s FoI code
Dr Alan Blacker – the solicitor who has found himself at the centre of constant attention since a judge in 2014 described him as dressing “like something out of Harry Potter” – has failed in his bid to challenge the Law Society’s freedom of information code and stop it releasing information about him.
