Practice Management
Courts Service to up the ante on digital divorce and probate
The next year of the court modernisation programme will see digital end-to-end services for divorce, probate, and money claims for under £10,000.
“Huge savings to come” from local land charge digitisation
HM Land Registry launched its new digital local land charges register last week, which will cut the time it takes to get results from days or weeks to seconds.
Major survey finds law firm “race to the middle” on price
Law firms are in a “race to the middle” when it comes to pricing their services and consumers are happy with what they are receiving, new research has found.
AI platform to help food banks and MPs refer legal problems to lawyers
An AI platform designed for businesses is to help staff at food banks and MPs’ surgeries refer legal enquiries from members of the public to lawyers in a pilot scheme this autumn.
ICAEW takes voluntary approach to firms publishing prices
The accountancy regulator has decided not to force its firms that provide reserved probate services to publish their fees – unlike the legal regulators.
‘Mystery shoppers’ finds law firms missing out on business
Law firms are still failing to respond to customer enquiries properly, with a mystery shopper survey showing a “dismally poor” performance in respect of follow-up calls.
Law firm discriminated against blind ex-managing partner
A Brighton law firm discriminated against its blind former managing partner on the grounds of disability, an employment tribunal has found.
Law firm was instructed “when clients agreed to visit its offices”
People buying holiday home became clients of a law firm after agreeing to visit its offices to complete their purchases, making it liable for negligence, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Government puts money and influence behind lawtech industry
The Lord Chancellor last night threw his weight behind the UK’s lawtech industry, and is creating a panel to help accelerate the development of innovative technologies.
Home owners “do not trust” law firms referred by estate agents
A significant proportion of home owners do not trust the law firms they are referred to by estate agents, a survey has found.
“AI not delivering for poorest” says technology reality check
Artificial intelligence, chatbots and hackathons may be developments that have great potential or are delivering exciting commercial applications, but they are doing rather less at present for access to justice.
High run-off premiums “holding profession back”, says innovator
The profession should work with indemnity insurers to deal flexibly with run-off risks and encourage large law firms to merge with small ones, according to a solicitor entrepreneur.
National chambers aims to revolutionise case management IT for barristers
Innovative national chambers Clerksroom is teaming up with the likes of Microsoft and Lloyds Bank to build an end-to-end case management system for barristers.
Indemnity insurance reforms not worth the risk, cautions ABI
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is wrong to assume that premiums will fall as a result of its professional indemnity insurance reforms, the Association of British Insurers has warned.
Female leadership programmes need to start delivering, says PLC boss
Female leadership programmes within law firms need to “walk the talk” and actually increase women’s representation at the top of the legal profession.
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.
