City solicitor faces £600k bill to reimburse former firm and indemnity insurer in bribe case
A former senior solicitor at City firm SNR Denton is facing a £600,000 bill after the High Court ordered her to repay the firm and its insurer losses they suffered as a result of her involvement in the payment of a bribe.
Consumer panel targets "sub-standard" legal advice
There is evidence that the quality of legal advice is “too often sub-standard”, meaning the safety net for consumers needs to be enhanced, the Legal Services Consumer Panel said today as it launched its work programme for the next year.
Legal advice from claims consultancy does not attract privilege, High Court rules
The client of a claims consultancy that employed lawyers could not claim legal professional privilege (LPP) on their advice, the High Court has ruled.
COLP role risks prompting culture of silence at firms, warns top adviser
Law firms should not appoint the lawyer who handles their indemnity insurance as the compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or risk discouraging lawyers from owning up to their mistakes, a leading City solicitor has advised.
Legal Services Consumer Panel survives the chop – for now
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has escaped the government’s consolidation of consumer advocacy and information into Citizens Advice – for now. The move was strongly opposed by the Legal Services Board but supported by the Law Society.
Firms “need to develop” whistleblowing and client account interest policies
Law firms need to establish policies on whistleblowing and the interest they pay to clients, according to a leading regulatory solicitor. Other key issues troubling firms include preparing a business plan and compliance with provisions on outsourcing.
Trainees on housing benefit is “not the image that befits the profession”, Law Society tells SRA
The prospect of trainee solicitors claiming housing benefit and taking on second jobs because the minimum salary has been scrapped “is not the type of image that befits the profession”, the Law Society has claimed.
Caplen heads to summit of solicitors’ profession
Andrew Caplen has won a five-man race for the post of deputy vice-president elect of the Law Society, meaning he will become president in 2014. A Southampton-based solicitor, he has appeared as an advocate in the European Court of Justice.
Top chambers and law centre throw weight behind pioneering webcam legal service
One of the country’s largest barristers’ chambers has joined forces with Instant Law UK, as it rolls out its library-based video-conferencing service. Users will also have access to the first interactive, online debt and employment law service, in conjunction with a London law centre
Non-lawyer ownership of law firms “will do a disservice” to clients, claim top general counsel
Any form of non-lawyer ownership of law firms is bad for clients, nine leading general counsel have claimed. The group of US-based in-house lawyers said they also detected no great interest in or need for non-lawyer ownership.
