Market, not SRA, will intervene if big firm hits the rocks, says Philip
In the event a large firm collapses, the Solicitors Regulation Authority expects the market to “gobble” up the pieces rather than leave it to the regulator to sort out, it has emerged. Chief executive Paul Philip said the question of whether the regulator could cope with a large firm going down had been discussed internally.
SDT strikes off solicitor who admitted he should never have qualified
A solicitor who admitted he should never have qualified in the first place has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for misusing client money. Separately, it struck off a former sole practitioner who is serving four years in prison for fraud after stealing over £620,000.
Pass mark for Bar aptitude test to rise after failing to stop weak students getting through
The test aimed at weeding out students with little chance of passing the Bar professional training course has so far failed to achieve its objective because the pass mark has been set too low, the Bar Standards Board revealed yesterday.
Solicitor taken in by ‘Pope’s banker’ conman escapes prison sentence
The solicitor who safeguarded more than £100,000 of stolen cash for a charismatic conman posing as the Pope’s banker was last week spared jail after a judge heard the stress of the case has robbed her of the chance of conceiving a child.
ABS owned by global insurer unbundles legal services for SMEs
The law firm owned by global insurance giant Markel relaunched this week with a product that unbundles legal advice for small and medium-sized businesses. LHS Solicitors offers a £50 ‘quick review’ service that allows clients to post relevant documents online, if necessary, and then receive an advice call within two hours.
Legal AI and big data given EU funding boost as Deloitte unveils massive contract analysis activity
A global study into a key element behind artificial intelligence (AI) and using big data in the legal sphere has received the green light and €1.2m of European funding. Meanwhile, in a related development, Deloitte, has undertaken what is thought to be the world’s largest deployment so far of AI in contract analysis.
The justice system of the future: online continuous hearings and a single point of entry
The first trial of online dispute resolution (ODR) in the UK’s courts and tribunals will introduce a concept known as the “online continuous hearing”, it has emerged, with the Senior President of Tribunals urging a change in perception of litigation from an adversarial dispute to “a problem to be solved”.
Politicians put emphasis on public legal education as lawyers urged to see benefits
Helping to enhance public understanding of the law will “unlock demand for legal services”, solicitors have been advised as part of a new push to promote public legal education (PLE). It came as a high-powered non-partisan group of MPs and peers was formed to promote PLE.
Howarth outlines plans for One Legal expansion on back of “significant investment”
One Legal’s acquisition of Kaim Todner sets the foundation for further deals on the back of “significant investment” it has received to expand, the alternative business structure’s founder has said. Trevor Howarth, who shot to prominence as the boss of now-defunct Stobart Barristers, also did not resile from his controversial description of criminal legal aid firms as “very wounded animals ready to die”.
MoJ hopes hackathon will deliver justice system innovation
Software or data analysis techniques that could help flag up fraudulent legal aid claims or predict the likelihood of someone re-offending are outcomes the Ministry of Justice is hoping could come from a hackathon it will hold later this month.
