Mr Justice Mostyn: Nobody anticipated “savagery” of legal aid cuts
Mr Justice Mostyn has delivered some of the strongest judicial criticisms yet of the legal aid cuts and warned that “more are in prospect” under a majority Conservative government. His comments, though largely targeted at family law, came on the eve of today’s strike over pay by criminal law solicitors.
‘Negligent’ firm escapes payout after court finds no causation
The High Court has dismissed a claim of professional negligence against a firm of solicitors because, although the claimant successfully established liability, no loss or damage was found to be have caused.
ABS news: R&D experts plot expansion, PI firm set to launch second ABS and plans third
A major international consultancy specialising in research and development grants and tax credits has launched an alternative business structure to offer a wider range of employment law services to its SME clients.
Will writers’ body is first to urge members to join paralegal register in voluntary regulation move
Will writers have become the first practitioners to sign up to a new register of paralegals, which is set to be launched next month as part of an effort to set standards for the non-authorised legal professionals.
Solicitor wins appeal against striking-off
A solicitor struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has won the right to a new hearing in front of a different tribunal after the High Court ruled that the tribunal was wrong to accuse her of dishonesty.
Solicitor escapes lack of integrity charge by pleading incompetence
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has allowed a solicitor to continue to practise despite the fact he used “his incompetence as a shield” against the lack of integrity that was alleged, after he unwittingly facilitated a mortgage fraud that cost his lender client £744,000.
Slater & Gordon shares nosedive over accounting concerns
Slater & Gordon’s shares collapsed by 25% today after it confirmed that its audit process was under scrutiny by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and that it had made errors in the accounts for its UK arm.
Solictors sanctioned following Insolvency Service investigations
A retired solicitor has been made subject to a maximum 15-year bankruptcy restriction order for misappropriating funds from his clients’ accounts, overcharging clients and falsifying his records to cover up his actions. Meanwhile, a solicitor from Essex has been disqualified as a director for five years.
SRA charts new course that means few firms will need FCA authorisation for consumer credit work
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is set to continue regulating most consumer credit activities carried out by law firms after new proposals were issued last week. A consultation said solicitors would be able to carry out mainstream consumer credit activities as long as they are central to the legal services they provide.
Slater & Gordon hits back at the doubters: There have been no nasty surprises since Quindell takeover…
Slater & Gordon has fought back hard against continuing questions about its £637m acquisition of Quindell’s professional services division – which have hit its share price – revealing it expects PSD to handle 95,000 road traffic cases next year. It said there have been “no material negative surprises” since formally taking over last month.
