High Court overturns Recorder’s finding of fraud against law firm that was not given chance to defend itself
A Bolton law firm has won an unusual judicial review against the decision of a Recorder who had accused it in his ruling of being party to a ‘crash for cash’ fraud, without giving the solicitors the chance to rebut the allegation.
Gove: successful lawyers need to give more back to support access to justice
The most successful members of the legal profession need to do more to help protect access to justice for all, the Lord Chancellor Michael Gove said today, warning that the status quo is not “defensible”. A one nation approach to justice cannot be blind to the fact that “while resources are rationed at one end of our justice system rewards are growing at the other end”.
Eversheds debt recovery spin-off plans ABS expansion while Midlands start-up looks to US
A team of legal executives who were once a debt recovery arm of Eversheds, has launched an alternative business structure to bring litigation in-house under the supervision of its FILEx head of legal practice.
Barrister faces suspension after second disciplinary tribunal over handling client money
A commercial barrister who was fined by a Bar disciplinary tribunal earlier this month for handling £5,000 of client money, faces suspension after a second tribunal found that he later handled a further £400,000 from another direct access client.
Gove targets criminal justice reform in first speech as Lord Chancellor
In his first major policy speech as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Michael Gove will on Tuesday call for “urgent” reform of the criminal justice system as advocated by Lord Justice Leveson so that it does not just serve the wealthy.
Bar Council joins forces with northern barristers to launch “go-to website” for direct access
The Bar Council has joined forces with the two Preston-based barristers behind the Direct Access Portal to relaunch it as the “go-to website” for consumers looking for a barrister. The portal will replace the Bar Council’s existing direct access register.
Law Society records £33m surplus – but cost of practising set to remain the same
The Law Society recorded a £33m surplus last year, its annual report has shown, while former chief executive Des Hudson received a pay packet of £407,000 in his final year. However, the society has proposed retaining the practising certificate fee at £320.
Report: fake reviews underline need for best practice by legal comparison websites
Consumers are being misled by dubious practices in online reviews and endorsements, while more than half of buyers of services are swayed by them, according to an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority.
LSB invokes statutory powers to tackle concerns about Legal Ombudsman’s performance
The Legal Services Board has invoked its statutory power to set performance targets for the Office for Legal Complaints – the body that oversees the Legal Ombudsman – because of concerns that current targets are at risk of not being met and there are “inherent structural features [that] are likely to prevent significant improvements in performance being made”.
Lord Chief Justice worried about paucity of new QCs from outside London
The Lord Chief Justice has highlighted the “very worrying trend” of few appointments to silk outside of London and the impact this may have on diversity on the bench. However, Lord Thomas also expressed hope that an upcoming competition for deputy High Court judges would deliver “the kind of pool [of candidates] we have never seen before”.
