Latest news – Page 822
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News
Firms ‘bucking recessionary trend’, says survey
Law firms are ‘bucking the recessionary trend’ and proving particularly resilient to the current economic climate, research has suggested. Two in five law firms increased their turnover last year, according to a survey of 69 firms conducted by accountants BDO Stoy Hayward. ...
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Law Society calls for greater protection of client money
Client money deposited in a bank account by a solicitor must receive better protection under European law in the event that the bank collapses, the Law Society has warned the European Commission. In a letter to the European commissioner for the internal market and services, Law ...
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Research shows fall in in-house salaries
In-house lawyers in the north-east have seen a drop in salaries over the past year, research has shown. A survey of 100 in-house lawyers by legal recruiters BCL Legal found that senior lawyers in Yorkshire and the north-east have seen salaries drop an average of £10,000 ...
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Children ‘at risk’ over expert witness fee cuts
Vulnerable children will pay the price if social workers are excluded from being expert family court witnesses, family practitioners have warned the government. Child care professionals met government representatives last week to educate them on the work done by independent social work experts (ISWs) and warn ...
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Quinn Group to ‘consider selling’ its insurance business
Quinn Insurance, the Irish insurer currently in administration, looks destined to be sold following a statement from its parent company Quinn Group issued today. Quinn Group said it had concluded that it ‘should consider selling Quinn Insurance’ in the interests of Quinn Insurance employees and ...
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Conveyancing discrimination
I was unable recently to act on behalf of a client in a conveyancing transaction because my firm was already acting on behalf of her seller.
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Solicitors beware
The HomeBuy Direct Scheme assists first-time purchasers with government grant delivered by the Homes and Communities Agency via housing associations.
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Quinn advice
I refer to your article ‘Quinn could reopen in UK’ (see [2010] Gazette, 22 April, 2). You assert that the Law Society has advised solicitors currently insured with Quinn ‘... not to take any action’.
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Full disclosure required
Gillian Phillips is absolutely right in calling for claimant libel lawyers to disclose the outcomes of their CFA-funded cases (see [2010] Comment, 15 April, 10). CFAs and the accompanying high success fees genuinely have a ‘chilling effect’ on freedom of expression. As my firm represents the ...
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Nominations sought for Law Society Council
Elections for new Law Society Council members have now opened, with 17 seats up for grabs across 15 constituencies. The deadline for nominations is 6 May, and successful candidates take office on 15 July. The term of office is four years, and for the casual vacancy ...
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Big brands will ‘drive small personal injury firms out’
Small ‘pure play’ personal injury law firms will become extinct once ‘big brands’ can offer legal services, Richard Langton, partner at national firm Russell Jones & Walker, told the conference. Langton predicted that personal injury firms with fewer than 30 fee-earners will be driven out of ...
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Third-party capture is ‘legitimate’ , says Association of British Insurers
Third-party capture is ‘legitimate’ and ‘in everyone’s interests’, Nick Starling, director of general insurance and health at the Association of British Insurers, told delegates at last week’s conference. In a number of heated exchanges, Starling was grilled over the practice of third-party capture – also known ...
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Rising cost of PI claims against the NHS ‘cannot continue’
The escalating cost of personal injury claims against the NHS ‘simply cannot continue’ and lawyers must advise the government on a remedy, the incoming president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) said last week. Muiris Lyons (pictured), partner and head of clinical negligence at ...
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Firms shrug off disruption caused by Iceland’s volcanic eruption
Hundreds of City lawyers were stranded across the globe by flight disruption caused by Iceland’s volcanic eruption this month. However, firms played down disruption to clients, noting that solicitors were able to make use of remote working or overseas offices. ...
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Law Society unveils new online resource with details of CPD courses
The Law Society has launched a new online resource with details of hundreds of CPD courses from leading suppliers, and a free CPD planning and recording tool. The new CPD Centre, which aims to be the portal of choice for all CPD requirements, takes solicitors through ...
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Warning that local solicitors will become an ‘endangered species’
Support group the Lawyers Defence Group (LDG) has called on the next government to legislate to protect access to justice and high street firms by imposing marketing restrictions on alternative business structures. The group has warned that local solicitors will become ‘an endangered species’ if ...
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Bar sets out guidance on how chambers can compete with solicitors
The Bar Council has published guidance to chambers on setting up a new business model that will enable barristers to bid for work in competition with solicitors. The new concept, dubbed ProcureCo, is a separate corporate vehicle that can be formed as an adjunct to ...
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Pro rata practising certificate plea for part-timers
Solicitors who work part-time should pay a reduced, prorated practising certificate fee, the Association of Women Solicitors has said. Under the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s proposals for reform of the way the practising certificate is charged, a flat fee of around £510 will be payable per individual ...
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General counsel ‘bypass law firms’ and go directly to the bar
General counsel are increasingly bypassing law firms to go directly to the bar for legal advice, according to a report published today. A study by research company Winmark found that while commercial law firms are banking on an increase in corporate legal spend to boost their ...