Property
Tribunal: Barristers’ rooms are not individually rateable properties
A leading tax law chambers has failed to convince a tribunal that rooms occupied by barristers are individual properties for the purposes of business rates.
Search providers refused permission to appeal “overcharging” ruling
The High Court has refused 14 search providers permission to appeal a ruling dismissing an overcharging claim against the nine English water companies.
Former conveyancer raises £850,000 for onboarding tool
A former conveyancer has raised almost £850,000 for a new onboarding tool, including a grant of £292,000 from Innovate UK, which went live in July.
AI “could help allocate work to conveyancers”
Artificial intelligence is being developed for “triage and work allocation” in law firms and particularly for conveyancing, a director of the SRA has said.
Full-service law firm relaunched as consultant-led property specialist
FDR Law, a general practice bought by Taylor Rose in 2021, has been relaunched as a specialist property law firm for self-employed consultants.
Conveyancers will be urged to move away from client account
Licensed conveyancers will be encouraged by their regulator to move away from the risks of client account as it becomes more practical, an industry roundtable has heard.
SRA to probe competence of family law and landlord and tenant solicitors
The SRA is to examine how family law and landlord and tenant law specialists maintain their competence amid increasing reports about their practices.
Claim against law firm back on after High Court overturns strike-out
The High Court has overturned a master’s decision to strike out a claim against a London law firm because of a release clause in a previous settlement involving its clients.
TV personalities wade in over agents “forcing” conveyancers on buyers
Estate agents forcing buyers to use their preferred lawyers, or at least charge more if they do not, has come under the spotlight thanks to TV personalities Martin Lewis and Kirstie Allsopp.
Law Society “must become more responsive to members” after SGM
The Law Society “must become much more responsive to its members working at the coalface of legal services”, the head of the Property Lawyers Action Group has said.
Law Society leaders take their lumps but survive no-confidence vote
The Law Society leadership yesterday fought off a vote of no confidence in how it represents conveyancers but took plenty of criticism along the way.
Cheers for what’s in King’s Speech, boos for what’s not
The legal profession’s reaction to the King’s Speech yesterday focused as much on what is not in the government’s legislative priorities as what is.
Law Society sets out TA6 consultation plan as SGM looms
The Law Society has called in market researchers to help run a six-month consultation on the new version of its TA6 property information form.
Conveyancers “overlooking post-completion work” after taking fee
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has outlined its “growing concern” that post-completion work is not being done properly and promptly.
Niche advice law firm expands into litigation funding agreements
A law firm which specialises in providing independent legal advice where needed in property, banking and finance transactions has expanded to litigation funding agreements.
Blog
Time to get real: Why authenticity should be at the heart of your marketing
Authenticity is becoming an increasingly important part of marketing. Glossy adverts are no longer enough; these days consumers want to connect with brands on a more personal level.
Why it’s time to embrace health justice partnerships
In July, I completed a second-year evaluation of a health justice project in Australia amid the continuing interest in England and Wales in co-locating health and legal services.
What does the SRA’s consumer protection review mean for law firms?
Practitioners need to be aware of the SRA’s increasing oversight of firms, especially those considering mergers, acquisitions, or private equity investment activity.
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