No end to flood of complaints about CMCs as total rises above 15,000
The number of complaints to the Legal Ombudsman about claims management companies is gathering pace and passed 15,000 in the first nine months of 2015, it has emerged. LeO said almost half of the complaints were about fees.
Leigh Day accuses SRA of premature referral to tribunal over Iraq abuse inquiry
London law firm Leigh Day has come out fighting after it emerged that the Solicitors Regulation Authority has referred it to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over its conduct in representing hundreds of Iraqis who claimed that they had been abused or unlawfully detained by British forces during the Iraq war.
‘Amicable app’ aims to take some of the pain – and cost – out of divorce
A counsellor and a tech entrepreneur are launching an app to help couples going through separation or divorce, and cut down on the need for lawyers and the amount spent on them. The first version of the ‘amicable app’ will go live at the end of March.
Robot takeover of lawyers’ work “unlikely to be as far-reaching or as fast as predicted”
Automation by computers is unlikely to replace much of the work currently done by lawyers any time soon and the negative employment effects of technology have been overstated, according to a study.
Insurer sidesteps ABS with new legal venture
LV= has created its legal offering to offer an extra service to its members and customers, rather than to make any great profit, its claims director has told Legal Futures. The new venture is not an alternative business structure, unlike all the other such arrangements between insurers and law firms.
Consumer rights forum launches legal services comparison website
Legal Beagles, a consumer rights forum, has launched a comparison website using its own research on fixed fees to decide which law firms are listed. Kate Briscoe, chief executive of Legal Beagles, said only around 500 firms published fixed fees on their websites.
LV= is latest insurer to enter legal services market
LV= has become the latest major insurer to enter the legal services market after forming a joint venture with Bristol-based Lyons Davidson. LV= Legal Services is offering fixed-fee advice for wills, powers of attorney, probate, conveyancing, personal injury and employment law.
SDT: Millions of pounds not repaid as Barnett tried to keep firm afloat
Southport law firm Barnetts was a business in “dire straits” and other solicitors “would feel ashamed” at the actions of its senior partner in trying to keep it afloat, which included misusing and not repaying a £4.86m loan, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has ruled.
Major figures from legal world scoop New Year’s honours
The first female president of the Law Society, the former senior partner of City giant Allen & Overy, a former chairman of the Bar Council, and a media lawyer personally rewarded by the Queen, are among those from the legal world recognised in this year’s New Year’s honours.
Government trumpets insurer pledge to pass on whiplash reform savings – but not how it will be monitored
Leading insurers have committed to giving customers 100% of the savings made from the proposed personal injury reforms, the government announced today – but did not explain if or how this pledge would be monitored and enforced.
