All News articles – Page 1540
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News
Smaller firms preparing for ABS rivals
Most leaders of small law firms are considering changes to the way they manage their firm and the services they deliver, in preparation for the entry of new providers into the market from October, according to research seen exclusively by the Gazette. A survey of 58 ...
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Maintaining your independence
With the current appetite for national rebranding and an increase in ‘opportunities’ for franchising, many law firms are considering their options. Is it better to invest in your own destiny or join a national brand or franchise for the same sort of investment? Whilst there can ...
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Why are divorcing couples so careless when it comes to Facebook?
I don’t mean to pry – it’s probably none of my business, anyway - but why do we have such an ambivalent attitude towards privacy? Even while going through divorce proceedings, a family lawyer warned this week, we seem impelled to risk the demolition of our ...
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Low exposure asbestos claims
The recent Supreme Court ruling does clarify the tests the courts should apply and will make it easier for victims with relatively low exposure to asbestos to succeed in claims, but significant hurdles still remain for many mesothelioma victims who do not know exactly where or when they were exposed ...
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LSC and Law Society fail to agree on civil contracts compensation
Firms that incurred losses after the High Court quashed the Legal Services Commission’s family tender last year will not receive compensation from the LSC, the Law Society announced today. Chancery Lane said it had been trying to negotiate a settlement arrangement with the LSC since last ...
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Legal advice ‘too expensive’ warns bar regulator’s chair
Legal advice is ‘too expensive’ and has ‘moved out of reach of the middle classes,’ the chair of the Bar Standards Board said this week. Speaking at Inner Temple, Lady Deech said: ‘The advice of a top barrister is affordable only by government, by corporate bodies ...
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Weightmans and Mace & Jones to merge
National firm Weightmans and north-west firm Mace & Jones will merge on 1 May to create a £75m-revenue, 1,000-employee business, the firms announced today. The news follows Weightmans’ recent announcement that it will acquire the full 13-partner insurance team from south-east firm Vizards Wyeth on 1 ...
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Outcomes-focused regulation: the emperor’s new clothes?
In just a few weeks the new Solicitors Regulation Authority Handbook will be released and in less than eight months the new regulatory regime comes into force. Many law firms, and alternative business structures, are only just beginning to consider what outcomes-focused regulation will really mean for their daily practices. ...
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Pressure prompts review of ‘domestic violence’ legal aid definition
The government has delayed its plans to respond to the legal aid and civil costs consultations until after Easter, and will ‘review’ the definition of domestic violence, the legal aid minister said last week. Jonathan Djanogly had previously said the government would respond before Easter, but ...
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Pressure prompts review of ‘domestic violence’ legal aid definition
The government has delayed its plans to respond to the legal aid and civil costs consultations until after Easter, and will ‘review’ the definition of domestic violence, the legal aid minister said last week. Jonathan Djanogly had previously said the government would respond before Easter, but ...
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What is that spell again, Hermione?
Never has the European Commission had more need of magic. It has become the Harry Potter figure, waving its wand desperately, trying to fight off death eaters and dementors (I have a few nominees for representatives of these groups, beginning with the hysterically anti-EU columnists in certain UK newspapers). In ...
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Law firms will need to get better at collaboration
There are many indications that the legal economy will continue to face a difficult year, with many managing partners predicting stagnation or worse. The picture from general counsel and heads of legal confirms this picture – their budgets show no increase is planned, and that some of that spend will ...
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News
Aptitude tests would be a positive step for BPTC and LPC students
Young people worried about the current oversupply of Legal Practice Course graduates will no doubt be looking with interest at how the bar’s regulator is seeking to address a similar issue in its own branch of the profession. Earlier today, the Bar Standards Board announced a new timetable for its ...
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Televise Supreme and Appeal Court hearings, says Neuberger
Some court hearings should be televised to increase public confidence in the justice system, the master of the rolls said this week. Giving the Judicial Studies Board annual lecture, Lord Neuberger suggested Supreme Court hearings and some Court of Appeal hearings should be televised on an ...
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Court strikes out filesharing actions
The Patents County Court struck out 27 alleged unlawful filesharing actions brought by London firm ACS:Law on behalf of its clients Media CAT yesterday. His Honour Judge Birss is now considering how much ACS:Law and Media CAT should pay in wasted costs, after accepting the submission ...
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Misleading picture
The President’s Podium gave a very misleading impression of the position regarding the question of free choice of lawyer under a legal expenses insurance policy. The right of free choice, when it arises, was introduced by the 1987 European Directive and has nothing to do ...
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Low marks for OPG review panel
It was with some optimism when, in September 2010, we learnt that the Office of the Public Guardian was reviewing its panel of deputies after 10 years. The aim, according to the OPG, was to revitalise the panel to ensure that it represented the many ...
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Law Society of Scotland members stage mass revolt
More than 160 members of the Law Society of Scotland have called for the body to be abolished in its present form, citing their ‘complete lack of confidence’ in its ability to represent the interests of the profession north of the border.
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Nexus Professional Network launches
A new service that matches lawyers who have qualified with large firms with companies seeking temporary legal work for specific contracts or projects launched this week. Nexus Professional Network, which has been set up by a group of current and former partners at large accountancy ...
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There are many reasons for wanting to join the legal profession
‘It is no part of my function to defend lawyers’ fees,’ Lord Neuberger said recently, ‘although, unless you pay lawyers properly, you won’t attract able people to the legal profession, and if you don’t attract able people to the legal profession, you will undermine the rule of law’.