Practice Management

Cheshire-based Bott & Co has unveiled a knowledge transfer partnership with the University of Manchester with the aim of incorporating artificial intelligence technology into the firm.

A high-powered body of experts has called for more detailed evaluations of the government’s ambitious court modernisation programme, and complained about the lack of data on its impact.

The law firms at the lower end the top 200 are punching well above their weight online, with large firms not using the natural advantage their strong brands offer to make the best of their websites.

Top women judges have called on senior lawyers to take responsibility for ensuring there is no sexual discrimination in their organisations rather than leaving it to diversity specialists.

Three women working in the field of law firm innovation are launching a new network next month. She Breaks the Law aims to support female leaders who are “delivering legal services differently”.

The Law Society has published 39 recommendations to help legal businesses deliver equality for women in the law, amid continuing reports of discrimination and harassment.

Radical changes to flexible working arrangements, along with mentoring and sponsorship programmes, and improvements to parental leave have topped the list of reforms listed by women lawyers.

A defunct family law firm has been criticised by an employment tribunal and ordered to pay two female members of staff unpaid wages and damages.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service has put back completion of the court modernisation programme by a year to 2023, it announced yesterday. It was originally planned to finish in 2020.

The Lord Chief Justice has set up an advisory group to provide senior judges with guidance on artificial intelligence, chaired by Professor Richard Susskind and including judges, academics and practitioners.

The clock on a possible ban on referral fees from lawyers to estate agents has started running after new guidance on disclosure was published by National Trading Standards.

Allowing a City law firm and QC to rely on ‘without prejudice’ communications to defend allegations of professional negligence could “undermine the policy of encouraging parties to settle disputes”.

City giant Linklaters and US firm Orrick have joined Allen & Overy by investing in tech company Nivaura, a cloud-based service for the issue and administration of financial instruments.

The High Court has rejected an application by global giant Dentons to strike out a negligence claim made against it as a third party.

Criminal law barristers cannot go on without “sensible parameters” for sitting hours and overnight working and will take action if the judiciary does not, the head of their representative body said yesterday.