Post Office victims offered legal advice to decide on appeals
New guidance also seeks to clamp down on Post Office lawyers taking adversarial approach.
Two-year delay over court order leads to sanction for judge
Judicial Conduct Investigations Office gives formal advice following complaint over child arrangement order.
Solicitor must pay nearly £11,0000 towards SRA's failed case
Tribunal says the SRA had been required to bring its unsuccessful case over alleged dishonesty.
Manager of firm caught in Mail sting sanctioned for 'woeful' staff supervision
Duncan Ellis solicitor said his approach to supervision ‘was to avoid micromanagement’, but the SDT found he had been reckless.
Debt soars at troubled class action firm Pogust Goodhead
PGMBM Law lost £91 million in 2023, overdue accounts reveal, but position 'consistent with expectations'.
Most Britons unaware of class actions in their name
Industry-sponsored survey says regime is simultaneously undermining business investment and failing to deliver fairness for consumers.
Lammy rules out bringing back employment tribunal fees
'Everyone, no matter their income, should be able to get access to justice to challenge unfair behaviour at work.'
Afghan judge wins challenge over rejected application to relocate to UK
High Court quashes previous decision over judge who tried a ‘significant number’ of criminal cases involving Taliban members.
Advocate immunity applies to police conduct, CoA finds
Bar Council, which intervened in case, says core immunity ‘critical for access to justice and the administration of justice’.
New president takes the reins at Chancery Lane
Lecturer Mark Evans, a property and private client specialist, becomes the 181st president of the Law Society - and the third from Wales.
Barrister wins £9,000 uplift in murder appeal fee
Senior costs judge finds KC’s ‘reasonable renumeration’ is £9,000 more than that decided by determining officer.
Regulators urged to help legal executives escape Mazur nightmare
Practitioners say job cuts have already started as firms react to seismic judgment.
Solicitor who hid case collapse for 10 years admits lies
Clinical negligence practitioner talked about getting medical reports for case that had long since ended.
Wrongly jailed barrister fails in latest disciplinary challenge to judge
Application for judicial review of JCIO rejection was ‘not arguable’ and matters complained of ‘fell outside of misconduct’.
£700 motor finance compensation a 'kick in the teeth', lawyers say
Average compensation from FCA scheme is likely to be less than car buyers were first told.
Whistleblower solicitor condemns eight-year cum-ex litigation
High Court dismisses £1.4bn claim by Danish tax authority despite defendant's 'implausible claims and obvious lies'.
Law firm hits back at accusations of profiting from Mazur
Legal executives say CILEX is still misleading members about authority to conduct litigation.
Tories would allow government to appoint judges
Conservative party conference: shadow lord chancellor brandishes wig in attack on 'political activism'.
Manager from failed firm barred by the SRA
Owner of Liverpool firm High Street Solicitors and its successor practice failed to disclose winding up petition.
Conservatives would abolish Sentencing Council
Shadow justice secretary will tell party conference that law should brought into with public wishes.
Tell clients about potential exit fees, SRA orders firms
SRA joins with Financial Conduct Authority in its campaign against misleading marketing.
'Without the FDAC... I’d be dead': On the fringes at Labour in Liverpool
Away from the main stage, Labour ministers and MPs attending the party conference heard about the benefits of problem-solving courts, and the plight of claimants left high and dry by bulk litigation firms.
Pogust Goodhead applies to bale out as dieselgate lead
Firm tells court its application is ‘pragmatic’ following ‘certain management changes’ and staff departures.
Top Tories demand crackdown on ‘unaccountable’ judges
Judiciary is ‘one of the great unreformed public services’, shadow minister tells Conservative party conference.
'Two trials' barrister disbarred over lie to court
'Matter is so serious we cannot come to any conclusion other than she must be disbarred', Bar Tribunal & Adjudication Service rules.
Tribunal dismisses former SFO investigator's whistleblowing claims
Complainant ‘prone to making serious allegations without evidence’, employment judge finds.
Seller info and conveyancer performance on latest home buying reform menu
'Biggest shakeup to the homebuying system in this country’s history' could save buyers hundreds of pounds, government says.
SRA to pay £27,000 over wrongful dishonesty charge
Tribunal rejects suggestion that SRA adjudicators acted independently of regulator.
Leaked webinar reveals CILEX members were misled pre-Mazur
Legal executives talk of being disheartened and embarrassed as cases taken away from them.
Barrister 'lied to court in order to appear in second trial'
Practitioner denies all allegations against her including that she lacked integrity or was dishonest.
Conservative conference: Courts must ‘get out of the way’
Shadow justice secretary makes multi-pronged attack on aspects of the legal system he perceives to be holding the UK back.
‘Tories putting politics above public good’ - Law Society
Chancery Lane condemns Kemi Badenoch’s plan for ECHR departure if the Conservatives return to government.
Thousands of workers who won at Employment Tribunal yet to see a penny
Investigation finds that nearly £36m out of £46m in ET awards over the past decade remains unpaid.
Deal to streamline practising approval in Belgium
An agreement signed by 10 presidents and chairs of legal professional bodies will help UK lawyers to practise in Belgium, the Law Society said this week. The memorandum of understanding aims to simplify requalification in Belgium and commits professional bodies in both countries to advocating for visa-free travel for lawyers.
In focus: Mazur ruling is a seismic shift
If you remain confused following last month’s seismic Mazur judgment, take comfort in knowing you are not alone.
CILEX defends its messaging to members over litigation rights
Professional body says it understands frustration of legal executives but offers no apology.
Fall in SQE1 pass rates casts doubt on multiple choice
Fresh questions are being asked about the merits of the multiple choice SQE1 test after pass rates sank to their lowest-ever level.
Buoyant top-100 financial results mask slow decline - report
Value and profitability of work ‘have stagnated or declined at most firms over last decade’.
Courts in crisis? Uxbridge defies dismal rating
The Gazette is visiting the lowest and highest-rated courts in England and Wales. First stop: Uxbridge magistrates.
‘Actively dishonest’ partner helped misappropriate £2.4m
London firm found to be vicariously liable for solicitor’s ‘complete disregard for his professional obligations’.
Claims firm's annual losses double to £5.2m
'Extremely ambitous' Veritas has borrowed millions as its invests in technology and physical infrastructure.
MoJ finally says 'I do' to wedding law reform
Locations will have to meet strict standards and regulation will shift from buildings to the officiant.
Judicious advice on chancellor churn
The loudest laughs at David Lammy's swearing-in as lord chancellor yesterday went to quips by the lady chief justice, Lammy himself and attorney general Richard Hermer - though not necessarily in that order.
One in three legal workers planning to get out
Profession 'at a crossroads' in terms of how it protects and enhances wellbeing, says mental health charity.
Father jailed for threatening family judge
'Lessons to be learned' after 'interruptions, disruption and abuse' continued for over half an hour.
Labour ‘planning to bring back employment tribunal fees’
TUC warns that reintroducing a charge would ’price many low-paid workers out of justice’.
Employee-owned firm repeats £4,000 staff bonus
Yorkshire group grew headcount significantly through office openings and an acquisition.
Mazur: Furious legal executives rally as SRA makes first public statement
Anger at representative body - but legal executives are coming together to offer support and advice.
Lord chancellor's swearing-in a 'constitutional first'
The deputy prime minister David Lammy made history today as he was sworn in as the first black lord chancellor in court 4 of the Royal Courts of Justice.
Starmer promises action on ECHR 'interpretation'
Laws must be 'applied in the circumstances as they are now', prime minister says in broadcast interviews.
Here’s looking at you, lady chief justice
Portrait of Baroness Carr to hang in Inner Temple.
Labour conference: Calls for IPP sentences to be fully abolished
Campaigners say indefinite sentences put lives at risks and abolition could be added to the Sentencing Bill.
Solicitors plead with Treasury to rethink extra AML burden
Proposed amendments to pooled client account will heap extra delays and costs, practitioners warn
Firm swoops on rival to recruit team of 28 lawyers
Entire team of major injury and casualty specialists follows partners to DWF in Leeds and London.
Lammy opens legal year with promise of more sitting days
Deputy prime minister and lord chancellor announces an extra 1,250 Crown court days.
Labour conference: PM opens speech with Hillsborough Law
Keir Starmer says legislation is wider recognition of injustice faced by victims of other tragedies and scandals.
Ombudsman exposes 10 more 'public interest decisions' - but denies naming and shaming
Latest set of outcomes involves firms of various sizes and financial redress orders ranging up to more than £40,000.
National bars convene in London to discuss threats to lawyers
Barristers have faced ‘death threats and rape threats’ and lawyers are 'traduced in some parts of the media’.
Call for consistency on unclaimed damages in collective actions
Access to Justice Foundation says there are no rules for unclaimed funds in settlement agreements.
Law Society wades in on Mazur - but SRA still silent
Profession needs clarity on statutory boundaries for conducting litigation, Chancery Lane says.
SFO’s largest forfeiture order under appeal following acquittal
Hearing over seizure of more than $8 million is listed for two weeks at Southwark Crown court.
Labour conference: Lammy attacks 'destructive myth' of ‘fat cat’ lawyers
Justice secretary used first major speech in new role to talk about what legal aid lawyers actually earn.
Magistrate who accessed colleague’s medical records sanctioned
Office holder, a retired medical practitioner, issued with formal advice for misconduct.
London lawyer fined £17,000 for bad property investment advice
City solicitor also admitted failing to supervise staff member advising on investments.
Legal aid lawyers spend quarter of day on unpaid work
Landmark research reveals hidden and non-chargeable cost of managing cases and contracts.
Legal executives given wrong advice about litigation rights
CILEX was wrongly telling members that law firm employees could conduct litigation as recently as December 2023.
Lawyers reject ‘high risk’ rating for money laundering
Home Office and HM Treasury assessment has repeatedly ranked legal services providers as highly attractive to criminals.
Labour conference: Tory attacks 'putting judges at personal risk'
Attorney general and justice minister say attacks are putting lives in danger and threatening UK prosperity.
In case of an emergency
Regular Gazette readers will recall that the SRA went all ‘Edith Piaf’ over Axiom Ince and the missing millions.
Memory lane
Law Society Gazette,
'English Law Panel' to promote legal services sector
Justice secretary wants to reinforce Britain's position as a global leader.
Conveyancing lawyers urged to reject requests for tax advice
Tax specialist says conveyancers are uninsured and unqualified to offer stamp duty advice.
In depth: Lawyers advised on how to counter money laundering risk
Solicitors attending Law Society's economic crime conference urged not to treat risk assessments as tick-box exercises.
Landmark mediation report highlights legal aid crisis
Family Mediation Council says mediators may have to close their doors to legal aid clients if fees are not increased.
Hundreds wrongly told SQE is cancelled
Exam administrator emailed 231 candidates on Wednesday evening saying the cancellation had been made at their own request.
Scepticism over Starmer’s digital ID plan
Digital ID will be mandatory for right-to-work checks by the end of this parliament, prime minister says.
SFO manager defends ‘no concerns in writing’ policy
Employment tribunal, sitting in central London, is hearing a whistleblowing detriment claim brought by a former Serious Fraud Office investgator.
Who is allowed to litigate? Suddenly no one is sure
High Court ruling brings on a compliance headache for solicitors - not least those who had relied on incorrect SRA guidance.
Emotions run high over Letby documentary
Invited to a preview screening of the new documentary Conviction: The Case of Lucy Letby, Obiter expected to watch in an environment of sombre silence. In fact, it was not long before screen 1 of the Curzon Soho cinema heard the first shout of ‘nonsense’.
High Court promotion for solicitor-judge
Former criminal defence specialist Margaret Obi will be the eighth solicitor among 149 judges on the High Court bench.
Landmark ruling clarifies scope of damages-based agreements
Firm loses out on £1.6m in fees as victorious litigant declares that ‘solicitors should not have too much skin in the game’.
Firm continues spread across the north with new acquisition
Pepperells vows to retain family feel as other businesses are brought on board.
Crown court offers trial date in October... 2029
Lord chancellor David Lammy relying on Leveson recommendations to slash the number of outstanding cases.
Rotting seagulls and 'maggots raining down': solicitors lay bare the condition of the courts estate
Uxbridge magistrates and Manchester magistrates were the two lowest rated courts, according to Law Society survey.
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Dozens cycle to Paris in memory of inspiring paraplegic solicitor
A team including lawyer’s teenage son will take to their bikes this weekend in ride from London to Paris.
Former SFO investigator brings whistleblowing claim to tribunal
Agency feared critical internal emails could undermine prosecutions, ex-staffer alleges.
Lawyer set for small screen portrayal
ITV’s latest blockbuster drama The Hack, which premiers tonight, will have one particularly avid lawyer viewer amongst the millions tuning in.
Treasury targets pooled client accounts in AML action plan
Banks could inundate law firms with requests for more information about clients.
Pogust Goodhead cuts ties with founder as office quietly closed
Experienced law firm leader installed as permanent chief executive.
ASA clamps down on misleading group claim adverts
No win, no fee claims in the line of fire as the collective actions sector comes under renewed scrutiny.