Practice Management
High Court clears law firms over “fraudulent” property transfers
The High Court has thrown out a claim that two law firms and three solicitors were responsible for two allegedly fraudulent transfers of a property.
Small firm solicitors “highly stressed but enjoying their jobs”
A majority of solicitors at small and medium-sized firms have high stress levels and most believe it is a “major issue” for the profession, a survey has found.
Law firm “can recoup outlay” from apprentice who quit early
A law firm is entitled to recoup the money it spent training an apprentice who broke an agreement to stay at the firm for a year after completing his course, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Firms “putting profit ahead of lawyers’ mental health”
The cultures of some law firms and other legal workplaces mean that well-being is “often not a concern” while they chase increased profits, researchers have found.
Barristers told: Don’t be so negative with colleagues
Barristers have been urged to be less negative in their dealings with colleagues as they may be damaging the profession’s wellbeing – particular of junior counsel.
Solicitor fails in libel claim over treatment of clients
A solicitor has failed in a libel action against the consultant of another law firm over comments made about her and her practice on Facebook.
Law firm has “no real prospect” of defending £5.2m claim
A London law firm has “no real prospect” of defending a £5.2m breach of trust claim brought against it following a London property deal, the High Court has ruled.
Union rallies lawyers to fight “poverty pay” in legal sector
The legal sector is “riddled with poverty pay and huge wage inequality and junior workers are bearing the brunt”, a trade union has claimed as it bids to attract members from across the legal sector
Ex-Simmons partner “must bring discrimination claim in France”
A former equity partner at leading City firm Simmons & Simmons has failed in her second attempt to have claims of race and sex discrimination heard in England and Wales.
Wellbeing course aims to help lawyers “work sensibly”
A pioneering online wellbeing course has been launched to encourage lawyers to “work sensibly” and avoid becoming “so stressed out they can’t cope”. It is the first course of its kind aimed specifically at lawyers.
The Sun forced to correct “damaging” Leigh Day story
The Independent Press Standards Organisation has upheld in part a complaint made by Leigh Day against The Sun over its coverage of the disciplinary case brought against the firm.
Mid-sized law firms recording solid growth, major survey finds
Last year saw solid real-terms growth for mid-sized law firms, with median growth of 4.2% the result of increased fee income rather than simply more fee-earners, new figures have shown.
Land Registry successfully transfers house using blockchain
A trial of blockchain involving digital transfer of property ownership has been completed by the Land Registry, but the agency has no plans to adopt the emerging technology itself any time soon.
Female lawyers speak out over pregnancy discrimination
The personal experience of chartered legal executives shows that more needs to be done to stop pregnant women and new mothers being “punished” by employers, their representative body has argued.
Solicitor’s discrimination claim to continue despite Twitter campaign
A US firm has failed to strike out a discrimination claim brought by a former corporate lawyer in its London office, after a tribunal found her not responsible for a friend’s Twitter campaign against it.
Blog
It’s time for law firms to ask tougher questions
For years, many law firms have treated ID verification as a box-ticking exercise. Run a liveness check, match a face to a document and move on. But that is no longer good enough.
Business fatigue to AI will risk job security
Whilst we know professional learning has always been part of career paths, to hire, retain and keep talent, AI needs to be embedded as a core part of this training.
On good authority? GenAI and the reputational risks to law firms
As GenAI’s influence grows, so do the risks which are already playing out in courtrooms across England and Wales, where some early adopters are setting precedents they would rather not.
