All News articles – Page 1734
-
News
Can lawyers agree over contingency fees?
Contingency fees, which are widely used in employment tribunals but banned in other areas of law such as personal injury, have come to the fore recently as various bodies have submitted their responses to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on the issue, launched in July.
-
News
Lord Hunt publishes regulation review
A wide-ranging review of solicitors' regulation commissioned by the Law Society and conducted by Lord Hunt of Wirral (pictured) is published today. Among the Tory peer's 88 recommendations is a proposal for what he describes as 'authorised internal regulation', under which law firms of all sizes would regulate themselves subject ...
-
News
A riposte to Professor Richard Susskind
I attended last week a meeting in Dublin of the chief executives of bars and law societies from around the world – well, from Europe, and common law jurisdictions beyond Europe (Africa, North America and the Asia Pacific region).
-
News
Private equity: the discussion is already well under way
Over on our LinkedIn group some really interesting discussion topics are being batted around, especially about what possible future investment in law firms by private equity firms might mean...
-
News
Society's PII helpline to target assigned risks pool
The Law Society has announced that from next Monday, 5 October, its professional indemnity insurance helpline will expand its service to assist firms that have fallen into the assigned risks pool because they were unable to obtain cover before the renewal deadline.
-
News
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. ...
-
News
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 ...
-
News
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.
-
News
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
News
Trumpeting legal aid
As Obiter reported back in July, musical lawyers Denis Cameron and Basil Preuveneers, both Law Society council members, were convinced they could make as much cash from busking as from being a legal aid lawyer. After a rousing stint in London’s Covent Garden, with Cameron ...
-
News
National bar leaders rally in defence of legal aid
More than 50 bar leaders from around the world have issued a communiqué in support of access to justice, urging governments to fulfil their duty to provide adequate legal aid funding. They gathered today at the Law Society in London at the opening of the legal ...
-
News
Law firm to offer all services online with new website launch
A north-west law firm will next week launch a website that offers the full range of consumer legal services 24 hours a day, for a fixed fee. Canter Levin & Berg claims to be the first firm to provide a full range of services online. ...
-
News
By analysing data the LCS is better understanding who complains and why
By Deborah Evansthe chief executive of the Legal Complaints ServiceOver time, a complaints handler amasses a huge amount of information. Spending a little time and energy on analysis helps gain an understanding of who complains and who they complain about.
-
News
Bookish appeal
Any solicitors wishing to clear some shelf space and do their bit for history might be interested in an appeal launched by Suzana Edwards of Trawscoed Mansion in Wales. It is asking lawyers to donate leather bound or decorative hardback law books (of any age) for the restoration of the ...
-
News
Watchdog to review Solicitors Regulation Authority
The Solicitors Regulation Authority will appoint an independent reviewer to oversee the way it handles complaints in a bid to improve efficiency. The SRA plans to introduce a single complaints-handling policy that will deal with all complaints, including those involving discrimination. ...
-
News
Law firm bankruptcies predicted as Lees Lloyd Whitley closes
Insolvency experts have predicted a rise in the number of law firms that will face bankruptcy in the coming months, after a well-known firm in the north-west closed its doors last week. Lees Lloyd Whitley (LLW) – a 190-year-old Merseyside firm with 90 staff – ceased ...
-
News
Serious Fraud Office to demand privilege waivers in plea bargains
Companies wanting to enter into plea bargains with the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) will have to waive privilege rights over previous internal investigations, a solicitor suggested this week, after the SFO completed its first successful prosecution of a British company for overseas corruption. British bridge contractor ...
-
News
BSB to decide barristers’ role in new legal structures
The Bar Standards Board will decide the role barristers will be allowed to have in new legal structures in November, it announced today. By then, it says, it will have analysed the results of research it commissioned into the benefits to consumers of the various different ...
-
News
Call for lawyers to speak plain English
A senior lecturer at City Law School has called on lawyers to abandon complex and archaic ‘legalese’ and speak clearly. David Emmet said lawyers have a habit of using words and expressions that are more complicated than they need to be. Typical ...