Last 3 months headlines – Page 1585
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Legal process outsourcing facing a ‘watershed’ year
Legal process outsourcing (LPO) faces a ‘watershed’ year during which it must prove its value to law firms and in-house lawyers, a report has predicted. Consultants Fronterion said LPO gained the media’s attention during 2009 as several top law firms and in-house teams announced deals, but ...
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SRA makes £3m payment to help clients of Wolstenholmes
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has made a payment of £3m to help clients whose conveyancing transactions have been left in limbo by the closure of Cheshire firm Wolstenholmes. The money has come from the Compensation Fund, which is administered by the SRA and funded by the ...
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Law Society files judicial review application over defendants’ costs cap
The Law Society has filed a judicial review application in a move to overturn new government regulations restricting the costs that can be recovered by acquitted defendants. Regulations that came into force on 31 October 2009 cap at legal aid rates the costs recoverable by ...
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Legal aid payments delayed by LSC IT glitch
Technical problems at the Legal Services Commission delayed payments that were due to all legal aid solicitors at the start of the year. The payment systems at the LSC went down for a day and a half, which meant the BACS payment run that was due ...
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Surprise increase in practising certificate numbers
The number of solicitors with practising certificates (PCs) continued its relentless rise in 2009, despite predictions in many quarters that the recession would herald a decline. Figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority show that the number of practising solicitors totalled 112,589 at December 31, having risen ...
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Jackson calls for success fee reform and end to PI referral fees
Success fees and after-the-event (ATE) insurance premiums should no longer be paid by the losing party in civil court cases, a major report on civil litigation costs recommended today. Winning parties in personal injury cases should benefit from a 10% uplift in their damages award to ...
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Why are women trainees paid less than men?
For some time, the profession has been doing a good job of enticing women in (although, as we all know, a lot of them end up packing their bags in their 30s when they find family life incompatible with their firm’s demands).
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Should lawyers be scared of the taxman?
The taxman cometh, and in his right hand he swings an axe coated with the blood of doctors and dentists. He is done with them, and now he seeks to scythe down all solicitors and barristers who have avoided paying him his dues…
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New government client care regulations ‘excessive’
New government regulations requiring solicitors to inform clients about what professional indemnity insurance they have in place have been described as ‘excessive’. The Provision of Services Regulations 2009, introduced by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) in December, require lawyers to provide information on ...
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What can legal business learn from publishing?
Are law firms more like publishing businesses than they think, and what might that mean?This sounds like an odd question, probably, if you're a lawyer and/or you run a law firm, but bear with me...
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Chancery Lane calls for answers about legal aid tendering process
The Law Society has written to the Legal Services Commission demanding urgent information about ‘fundamental issues’ concerning the civil legal aid tendering process, and expressing ‘grave concern’ at the lack of detail given to providers. The tender process is due to begin at the beginning of ...
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New ways of doing business in 2010 – US style
I am still in prophetic mode for the New Year and new decade. Two big drivers in the coming year, and for some time to come, will be the recession and new technology. Here are some developments touching on one or the other or both, as reported in various outlets ...
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Tough times ahead but no more redundancies, predict conveyancers
Property experts have predicted a slow start to the year, but forecast an end to redundancies among conveyancing solicitors. Paul Marsh, lead Law Society spokesman on property, said the next 12 months would remain slow, but with house prices rising in some areas due to a ...
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Chancery Lane moves to block legal aid cap for acquitted defendants
The Law Society has filed a judicial review application in a move to block new government regulations restricting the costs that can be recovered by acquitted defendants. Regulations that came into force on 31 October 2009 cap at legal aid rates the costs recoverable by acquitted defendants who have ...
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Have we escaped Microsoft's arms only to fall into Google's?
A minor landmark in the world of technology occurred just before Christmas. Well, actually it’s a legal issue mostly. Microsoft has agreed not to bundle Internet Explorer with its Windows operating system. Not exactly eye-popping news for most, but for some it marks the end of Microsoft...
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‘Breakthrough’ tax agreement helps large partnerships
Large law firms struggling with cash flow problems will be more able to obtain an extension on their tax deadline under a change in the rules adopted by HM Revenue & Customs. The new policy will extend the revenue’s Business Payments Support Service (BPSS) to large ...
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Local government: a feast of legislation and a claim of discrimination
For those who loved the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, 12 November 2009 will have been an emotional day. It was then that, with one touch of the royal wand, the bill became an act of parliament.
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Local government
Accidents – Duty of care – Economic loss (1) Geoffrey Glaister (2) Geraldine Glaister (3) Natalie Glaister v Appleby-in-Westmorland Town Council: CA (Civ Div) (Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury MR, Lords Justice Jacob, Toulson): 9 December 2009 ...
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Penology/criminology
False imprisonment – Measure of damages – Prison officers/strikes Prison Officers Association v Mohammed Nazim Iqbal: CA (Civ Div) (Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury MR, Lady Justice Smith, Lord Justice Sullivan): 4 December 2009 ...
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Charging orders and their impact on creditors and debtors
Section 1(5) of the Charging Orders Act 1979 provides as follows: ‘In deciding whether to make a charging order the court shall consider all the circumstances of the case and, in particular, any evidence before it as to (a) the personal circumstances of the debtor, and (b) whether any other ...