Practice Management

Artificial intelligence and associated technologies do not necessarily spell universal doom and gloom for the legal profession, Legal Futures’ latest Insight publication has found. They might also assist lawyers to expand their services, supply them more cheaply, and create new, different kinds of employment for legal professionals.

Law firms should be braver in asking potential clients for work and making sure they follow up leads, the new chair of LawNet has said. Kim Carr, managing partner of FBC Manby Bowdler, said lawyers “didn’t like selling things”.

A personal injury “knowledge hub”, backed by a board of industry experts, has been launched by solicitor and due diligence specialist Zoe Holland. Andrew Twambley and Professor Dominic Regan are among those involved.

The top 100 law firms have increased their output of content posted online by 77% over the past year as they step up efforts to build their presence and demonstrate their expertise on social media, according to new research. Irwin Mitchell was ranked as the best for showcasing its expertise online.

Insisting on an upper second class degree for future barristers could impose a “discriminatory burden” on BAME students, who are less likely to obtain them, a leading academic has argued in response to a Bar Standards Board consultation that raises the possibility.

Free2Convey, the free conveyancing portal developed by the Legal Software Suppliers Association, is to be available “in the next few weeks”, it has emerged. Julian Bryan, managing partner of Quill Pinpoint, said it would be ready before Veyo.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint over a law firm’s claim that its ‘no win, no fee’ clients would receive all of their damages. However, it emerged after the ASA made its finding that the firm, London practice Lorrells, had closed down.

Law firms are failing to unify the different generations within their workforces and are suffering as a result, research has suggested. It said there need to be formal programmes within firms that get the different generations talking and working together.

Lawyers at small and medium-sized firms are motivated much more by helping clients than running businesses, research has found. Only a slender majority said they enjoyed managing a business or saw themselves as “entrepreneurial”, compared to the 83% who got a “real buzz” out of practising law.

A claims management company set up as a joint venture between a law firm and two non-lawyer investors is looking to start competition in the personal injury market by offering clients success fees of 15%. Quittance promises to absorb other costs.

Lawyers should not connect on LinkedIn with anyone they have not met or already communicated with, a social media specialist has warned in the wake of the controversy that followed barrister Charlotte Proudman tweeting a comment made to her on LinkedIn.

Separate representation for lenders and borrowers in conveyancing transactions “should be the norm”, a senior manager at insurer Zurich has said. Michael Blüthner Speight described the increased cost would be “minimal”.

Veyo is still being tested and there is no fixed date for its national launch, the president of the Law Society told property lawyers last week. Jonathan Smithers admitted that “clearly the publicity ran well ahead of the product”.

The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision striking out a negligence claim against Birmingham law firm Blakemores, now in administration, and also set aside a default judgment obtained by the firm for £635,500 in costs.

The Law Superstore, a new legal services comparison website which will offer consumers lists of approved solicitors, is to be launched next spring by the former chief executive of Minister Law and Brilliant Law.