
CA sounds alarm over injustice risk as it ends up researching law for LiP
The Court of Appeal highlighted the false economy of the legal aid cuts yesterday after complaining that it had had to research the law on behalf of a litigant in person. It warned of the risk of courts coming to wrong decisions because of the lack of legal assistance.

Slater & Gordon unveils next two acquisitions, while Quindell talks continue
Slater & Gordon has today announced another two acquisitions that it said will make it the largest consumer law firm in Wales, as well as boosting its presence in the north-west and south-west of England, while talks over the acquisition of ‘operating assets’ of Quindell are continuing.

Law firm consumer brand sponsors Judge Rinder
Patient Claims Line, a consumer brand of Fletchers solicitors, has become sponsor of ITV daytime show Judge Rinder, in one of the first deals of its kind.

National v local brands – stalwart QS firm “reclaims independence”
The debate over national versus local legal brands is set to begin again after Norfolk firm Clapham & Collinge announced it was “reclaiming its independence” by leaving the QualitySolicitors network after four years.

High Court grants SRA power to destroy millions of documents held after interventions
The High Court has backed an application by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to destroy millions of documents seized from firms it has intervened in and had to store since, at significant cost to the profession.

High Court throws out £71m claim against Thompsons over failure of miners litigation law firm
The High Court last week threw out a £71m claim against trade union practice Thompsons which sought to blame it for the collapse of a law firm which had tried to bring group litigation on behalf of thousands of miners.

SDT to SRA: Giving accountants more responsibility will encourage law firms to play “blame game”
Giving reporting accountants more responsibility in identifying risks to client money will encourage law firms to play the “blame game”, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has warned.

CLC moves closer to regulating probate specialists
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has moved closer towards its goal of regulating specialist probate lawyers who do not have to be conveyancers.

Number of Quindell shareholders hoping for compensation reaches 500
The number of current and former shareholders in AIM-listed alternative business structure Quindell registering with a Liverpool law firm for a potential group action has doubled to over 500.

Sham marriages solicitor loses appeal against conviction
A solicitor convicted of assisting unlawful immigration into a European Union member state this week lost his appeal against conviction, shortly after being struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.






