
Law Society fails to block Find a Solicitor negligence action
The Law Society has failed in a bid to block a High Court action against it for negligent misrepresentation, after a bogus solicitor got himself listed on the society’s Find a Solicitor website and stole money from a house purchaser.

LeO opens door to investigating “tightly defined” third-party complaints
There is scope for the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) to offer redress to third parties, as long as the complaints involved could be “clearly and tightly defined”, a report by a LeO working party has found.

Professor John attacks “unhelpful” BSB complaints report
A report for the Bar Standards Board, which concluded that the regulator handled cases involving ethnic minority barristers in a “transparent, consistent and fair” way, has been strongly attacked by equality expert Professor Gus John.

Big law firms hiring poor-performing barristers, analysts claim
A group of US-based entrepreneurs claim to have carried out pioneering research which has shown that big commercial firms in the UK are “routinely rehiring poor performing barristers while ignoring the best performers”.

Hodge Jones & Allen pioneers fixed-fee divorce arbitration service
London firm Hodge Jones & Allen has launched a fixed-fee arbitration service for divorcing couples in the wake of judicial support for such a move to keep costs down. The firm is encouraging more law firms to get on board.

Barrister to appeal against BSB discrimination ruling
A barrister who claims she is the victim of racial discrimination by the Bar Standards Board has said she will appeal against last week’s High Court ruling that she has an arguable case but that it was brought out of time.

Over 250 Quindell shareholders register for planned group action
More than 250 current and former shareholders in AIM-listed alternative business structure Quindell have already registered their interest in a potential group action, Liverpool law firm Camps has said.

Plant reflects on five years at helm of SRA: “It’s a far better place now”
Charles Plant is leaving the Solicitors Regulation Authority at the end of this month “in a great deal better state than where I found it”, he has said in an interview to mark the end of his five-year tenure.

High Court: barrister has arguable discrimination claim against BSB
A black barrister had an arguable case that she was indirectly discriminated against by the Bar Standards Board through its disciplinary procedures, the High Court ruled yesterday.

Exclusive: “We will be biggest brand in UK,” says LegalZoom
US company LegalZoom today makes plain its ambitions for the UK market by saying there is “no question” that it will become the best-known legal brand on this side of the Atlantic.









