“Old-fashioned solicitor” whose firm “became a mess” is struck off
An “old-fashioned solicitor” whose firm “became a mess and spiralled downwards” has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. “Even if the respondent’s actions were not pre-mediated when he made the first transfer, by the one hundred and forty seventh transfer they must have been,” it said.
Barrister who overturned disbarment at Court of Appeal is disbarred again
A barrister who overturned his disbarment at the Court of Appeal last year has been disbarred again. Damian McCarthy was found by a Bar disciplinary tribunal to have forged client care letters, after a direct access client complained.
Co-op members to receive financial reward for using legal services arm
Members of the Co-op are set to receive money back if they use the group’s legal services arm. As the Co-operative Group looks to recover from the reputational damage of recent times, it has unveiled its new logo – returning to the familiar design first used in the 1960s – and revised its membership offer.
Number of solicitors appearing before SDT on the up amid warning over poor business skills
There has been a sharp rise in the number of solicitors appearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal amid claims that some “do not have the rounded set of skills to run a business”. The SDT’s annual report also revealed that it will be looking at whether the Solicitors Regulation Authority is to blame for delays in hearings.
High Court throws out negligence claim against law firm and counsel
The High Court has summarily dismissed a professional negligence claim brought by a hotel company against Midlands firm Wright Hassall and a barrister, Max Mallin. The case involved the conversion of a Victorian office building in Manchester into a four-star hotel.
Bar Council: use direct access barristers instead of paid McKenzie Friends
Litigants with limited funds should use direct access barristers to represent them in court rather than pay for McKenzie Friends, the Bar Council has argued. The Bar Council, along with the Law Society and Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, supported the judiciary’s call for a ban on professional McKenzie Friends.
Biggest direct access win proves barristers “can cut out solicitors”
The chief executive of a pioneering set of direct access chambers has said victory in a group action at the Court of Appeal proves barristers can “cut out the intermediaries”. Carla Morris-Papps said direct access had meant “massive savings” for over 200 clients because the case had not gone through solicitors.
Not about the money: personal injury firm to open City “client knowledge hub”
Defendant personal injury firm BC Legal is launching an unusual “client knowledge hub” in the City next month, which will provide a range of free services but “very little fee-earning”. It said the hub would offer training, software demonstrations and free access to meeting rooms, a roof terrace, a gym and a hotel.
Hackathon aims to “harness technology to improve access to justice”
A legal hackathon is to be held north of the border as part of a push to stimulate lawtech innovation among Scottish law firms and promote the use of technology in improving access to justice. Two broad challenges will be presented in the hope that technological solutions emerge, such as mobile phone or computer apps.
Sumption: Legal specialisations are “essentially bogus”
Legal specialisations are “essentially bogus”, Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption declared today as he urged practitioners to break out of their core areas and learn from other parts of the profession. He said he did not regard law as comprising distinct bundles of rules, one for each area of human affairs.
