Latest news – Page 764

  • News

    Still time to build on splendid idea of setting up solicitors' building society

    2011-04-21T00:00:00Z

    I saw the letter from Edwin Lee, reminding us of that splendid idea of setting up a solicitors’ building society. It was a good idea in 1984 and it is still a good idea. The loss of so many building societies ...

  • News

    Advertising age discrimination

    2011-04-21T00:00:00Z

    I read Ivan Sanders’ letter, in which he pointed out the failure of many firms of solicitors to comply with equality legislation, with particular regard to age discrimination. I too have noticed for some time that many advertisements do not comply.

  • News

    County courts system failure

    2011-04-21T00:00:00Z

    The complaints of Graeme Hydari regarding the state of the criminal courts in which he practises are reflected in the state of certain county courts, and in particular the Central London County Court.

  • News

    Royal Courts of Justice were 'incompetent'

    2011-04-21T00:00:00Z

    I noted with interest the Obiteritem reporting the Family Justice Review Panel’s comment that the family justice system is in fact ‘not a system at all’ (see [2011] Gazette, 7 April, 35). Last week, my husband, two-year-old daughter and I were ordered to attend the Royal ...

  • News

    Law firm launches online fixed-fee service

    2011-04-21T00:00:00Z

    A London law firm and a barristers’ chambers have collaborated to offer a new online fixed-fee legal advice scheme. EDC Lord & Co and 6 Pump Court Chambers have launched ClickLaw24.com with referral agency Contact Law. The service provides 24/7 access to ...

  • News

    Irwin Mitchell to seek external investment

    2011-04-21T00:00:00Z

    National firm Irwin Mitchell has become one of the first law firms to give notice that it will seek external investment as it embraces the opportunities presented by the Legal Services Act. The firm, which has nine offices in the UK, will seek external investment ...

  • News

    SRA publishes strategy for combating conveyancing fraud

    2011-04-21T00:00:00Z

    The Solicitors Regulation Authority has published a draft supervision and enforcement strategy, setting out how it plans to work with conveyancing firms to combat fraud and money laundering. The strategy forms part of a package of measures designed to address problems in this ...

  • News

    Linklaters tops table of law firm websites

    2011-04-20T00:00:00Z

    Magic circle firm Linklaters has the best corporate website of the top 10 UK law firms, according to a new benchmarking survey. Linklaters’ site was placed 6th in a survey of 100 corporate websites by digital marketing agency Intendance, with magic circle firm Slaughter and May ...

  • News

    TUC warns against impact of employment law reforms

    2011-04-19T00:00:00Z

    Government plans for reform of employment tribunals will discriminate against black and minority ethnic groups, disabled people, women, and young workers, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC). The TUC said today that it is ‘seriously concerned’ that the government’s proposals ‘are heavily weighted in favour ...

  • News

    Half of UK adults cold-called by claims firms

    2011-04-19T00:00:00Z

    More than half of the UK’s adults have been cold-called or texted by claims firms in the past three years, research has suggested. A survey of almost 2,000 adults by market researchers consumerintelligence.com also found that 78% of people are concerned by a ‘growing compensation culture’ ...

  • News

    Prudential granted leave to appeal in privilege case

    2011-04-19T00:00:00Z

    The Supreme Court has granted financial services company Prudential leave to appeal in a Court of Appeal case that had confirmed that legal professional privilege (LPP) can only apply to qualified solicitors and barristers. If Prudential chooses to go ahead with the appeal, a reversal of ...

  • News

    Consumer ‘confusion’ over legal expenses insurance

    2011-04-18T00:00:00Z

    The public’s knowledge of legal expenses insurance is limited, despite the fact that 25 million UK households have bought the cover, according to research published today. A report by Consumer Focus, the UK consumer watchdog, found that 43% of people knew little or nothing about before-the-event ...

  • News

    CBI slams ‘claim first, think later’ tribunal culture

    2011-04-18T00:00:00Z

    The government must tackle the ‘claim first, think later’ culture that is making employment tribunals slow and costly for employers, a report has urged. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) report Settling the Matter claims that there has been a 173% rise over the last five ...

  • News

    More law firms face financial distress, report suggests

    2011-04-18T00:00:00Z

    There has been a 61% increase over the last 12 months in the number of law firms and other professional service providers facing financial distress, according to a report by business consultants Begbies Traynor. The Red Flag Alert report said that the number of professional services ...

  • News

    Society welcomes amendment to solicitors’ insurance rules

    2011-04-15T00:00:00Z

    The Law Society has welcomed the decision of the Solicitors Regulation Authority to amend its proposals on reform of the solicitors’ professional indemnity insurance (PII) market.

  • News

    Law firm develops divorce app

    2011-04-15T00:00:00Z

    A North London family solicitor has launched an app designed to help divorcing or separating couples in England and Wales to save money on their legal fees. Peter Martin, head of family law at Finchley firm OGR Stock Denton, has devised the ‘Divorce?’ app to provide ...

  • News

    Criminal service

    2011-04-14T00:00:00Z

    I read with interest District Judge Mildred’s not unreasonable request that those who appear before the courts should show due respect to the judge and, presumably, the court as a whole. His comment was in relation to the family and civil courts, but the issues apply ...

  • News

    ILEX assurance

    2011-04-14T00:00:00Z

    Your headline ‘Legal Services Board rebuffs Djanogly on ILEX rights’ does not reflect accurately the LSB’s position on this issue. It is correct that the LSB is currently considering ILEX’s application to extend the rights of legal executives to conduct litigation and appear in court. In ...

  • News

    A distinguished life

    2011-04-14T00:00:00Z

    I write in connection with Jonathan Goldsmith’s article about the worsening persecution of lawyers around the world. Mr Goldsmith referred to ‘a striking photo’ on the cover of ‘Lawyers without rights’ of a Jewish lawyer ‘being publicly humiliated in the streets as early as April 1933’. ...

  • News

    US lawyers consult on ABS reforms

    2011-04-14T00:00:00Z

    The American Bar Association (ABA) has taken a first step towards introducing alternative business structures in response to rule changes on this side of the Atlantic. A New York law firm’s decision to bring English barristers into its partnership via its City office has prompted the ...