All News articles – Page 1696
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News
Hike in TUPE litigation claims against law firms
The number of law firms facing litigation under Transfer of Undertakings, Protection of Employment (TUPE) regulations has risen sharply, the Gazette has learned. Gordon Turner (pictured), employment specialist at London firm Partners Law, said he has acted on nine cases where law firms have been ...
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MP rallies miners for legal action against legal adviser
Hundreds of injured former coal miners are being rallied to sue their legal adviser in the first coordinated legal action for alleged under-settling of government compensation claims, the Gazette can reveal. John Mann, Labour MP for Bassetlaw, told the Gazette he is gathering potential claimants to ...
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Do we need a grand plan for post-issue fixed fees across the fast-track?
After months of wrangling and delay, we now know the fees that claimant solicitors will be paid under the new, simpler claims process for run-of-the-mill road traffic cases.
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500 firms to enter assigned risks pool at indemnity deadline
A record 500 firms are set to fall into the assigned risks pool (ARP) today, as the deadline expires for professional indemnity insurance (PII) renewal. This means around one in 20 law firms will be forced to spend a quarter of their fee income on emergency ...
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A look at the latest changes to the Civil Procedure Rules (50th update)
The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2009 (SI 2092) were made on 28 July 2009 and, with certain exceptions, come into force today. They are accompanied by an update (the 50th) containing amendments to the practice directions which are such a key part of the modern system. ...
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New IT director blog: how to do, and not to do, outsourcing
In his first instalment, the Masked IT Director reports from the frontlines of legal IT… a suppliers’ conferenceThe Alternative Legal IT Conference: catchy title, eh?...
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Support service launched for bereaved families of victims
A new national service giving one-to-one support for the bereaved families of murder and manslaughter victims is to begin work this financial year, justice secretary Jack Straw has announced. National organisation Victim Support is receiving an extra £2m from the government to fund the new ...
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Bach rejects Society’s legal aid fee cut fears
Legal aid minister Lord Bach (pictured) has rejected Chancery Lane’s demand for an extension to the consultation period on proposed criminal legal aid cuts. He also dismissed the Law Society’s allegation that the August consultation paper Legal aid: funding reforms is ‘incoherent’ and ‘deeply flawed’. ...
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Could the LSC be the next target of government cuts?
Relations between the Ministry of Justice and the Legal Services Commission do not appear to have improved since my last post on the subject. Indeed, things may even have got worse.
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Immigration: what can lawyers do?
There has been a twist to my report last week that the incoming president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, has undertaken to separate justice and security issues at European level by creating a commissioner for justice and fundamental rights alone.
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Bar urges halt on contingency fees reform
The Bar Council has urged the government to halt plans to regulate contingency fees, to allow time for greater public debate. In its response to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on regulating the damages-based agreements that are frequently used in employment cases, the council said proposed ...
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General practice firms: look in the mirror, before it's too late
Are some traditional, 'general practice' firms living in cloud cuckoo land? In terms of how well they're managing their firms and especially their staff, and how they're going about marketing themselves, I'm beginning to think they are.
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Law Society acts on ‘inflated’ indemnity premiums
The Law Society has written to every professional indemnity insurer asking for an ‘urgent response’ to its concerns over the ‘hugely inflated’ premiums being quoted ahead of this year’s renewal deadline. The Society said calls to its dedicated professional indemnity insurance helpline indicated that insurers were ...
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Race to the top
I write regarding last week’s news item ‘Aspiring judges quizzed on race’ (see [2009] Gazette, 17 September, 1).
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Legal profession
Costs –Intervention in solicitors’ practice – Suspected dishonesty – Solicitors Accounts Rules Shahrokh Mireskandari v Law Society: Ch D (Mr Justice Henderson): 4 September 2009 The court was required to determine issues of costs and other consequential matters ...
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Product placement could mean lucrative work for lawyers
Legal advice and litigation in respect of television product placement could boost City firms’ income next year, after the government said it will consider lifting an existing ban. The government’s announcement has stirred interest among law firm media and marketing practices. Stephen Groom, consultant and head ...
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Memory lane
Books are revived with a review of G.S. Nicholson detailing the prerequisites for becoming a solicitor and R Lowe writing about the changing dynamics of relationships, 'first step, write to Woman’s Own, next step, see a solicitor?'. ...
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Opportunity knocks
Everyone knows that first impressions are all important. But did you give that any thought before you knocked on the door for that all-important client introduction or job interview? Knock too quietly and you’ll come across as a meek little mouse. Too loud and you’ll imply a ‘negative state of ...
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Judge for yourselves
Obiter was privileged to be given a tour of the new Supreme Court building this week, and must admit to being impressed. No longer the dingy and dirty-stoned Middlesex Guildhall that some had muttered would not be an appropriate home for such a ...