Labour to plough £18m into 200 social welfare lawyers
Costed plans due to be unveiled by shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon MP at party’s conference in Brighton.
Proportionality costs boost for flight delay firms
Ruling could see end to district judges slashing costs without giving an explanation.
Dylan shows his Hart for a promotional appearance
Former England captain was guest of honour for announcement that Irwin Mitchell is official legal partner of England Rugby.
Solicitor struck off in 2013 for repeated misconduct is readmitted
John Parker Swindell did ‘all he could to restore his reputation’ in the six years after his strike off.
Former legal aid chief lands another demanding role: sorting Brexit
Shaun McNally has his work cut out thanks to Boris Johnson's 'Do or Die' Brexit strategy.
CPS commits to annual review of bar fees
Chair of the Criminal Bar Association: ‘we have never had anything like this or approaching this before’.
Solicitor gifted £404k in client wills ‘preyed on vulnerable’
Jonathan Leslie Horner ‘massively damaged the reputation of the profession’.
Firms face last-minute scramble for affordable PII
Insurers are pulling out of the market and substantial premium increases have been reported.
Free no more: BSB to pay barristers for tribunal representation
The regulator will replace its pro bono prosecution panel in January in an attempt to improve fairness and efficiency.
Eversheds Sutherland sets BAME targets for UK practice
Firm says it wants to bring accountability and transparency to the success of its diversity efforts.
Magic circle firms bolster presence in France
Freshfields and Linklaters hire Paris partners to consolidate their position in the French market.
US firm opens London office after payments sector ‘boom’
Alston & Bird is looking to expand its European practice.
Ex-partner who alleges bullying denied sight of colleague grievances
Helen Clifford brought constructive dismissal proceedings against south-east firm McMillan Williams.
Prosecution witness lawyer’s assassination shocks Netherlands
Derk Wiersum had been acting for a prosecution witness in a gangland murder trial.
Game changer: VAR and divorce reform
Mediation charity makes a bold comparison to highlight frustration over the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill.
Baker McKenzie trainees among highest paid
The international firm has increased its trainee starting salary from £45,000 to £48,000.
Ex-barrister loses complaint appeal over judge’s conduct of her case
Court rules judicial conduct watchdog was right to find Supreme Court judge had not breached conduct rules.
Kingsley Napley makes 'rare' acquisition
Kingsley Napley, which has not acquired a firm for 25 years, will take over employment practice Archon Solicitors from October.
Business secretary urged to set court interpreting standards
Voluntary regulator tells Andrea Leadsom that public service interpreters have been treated with contempt.
Firm advertises for black applicants to fill demographic gap
Leigh Day says it has fewer qualified staff of Afro-Caribbean or African heritage than it would like.
‘Pointless legal theatre’ - today's press on the Supreme Court
Political commentators switch their gaze to the western side of Parliament Square.
Trainee barred from profession over document cover-up
Norwich conveyancer had passed off an amended document as a freshly signed one.
Government must regulate ‘gig economy’ - Lib Dems
A panel of speakers at the Liberal Democrats’ party conference say workers on zero hours contracts face job insecurity and exploitation.
Supreme Court case not a bundle of fun for lawyers
The show goes on - with some delay.
Former Hodge Jones & Allen chief describes 'brave' decision to quit
Vidisha Joshi tells Law Society event that she achieved her mandate ahead of schedule.
Report on legal services regulation presents case for further reform
Mayson review sees merit in assessing legal services for risk to the public interest, with a ‘differentiated’ approach to regulation.
Law centre helps 2,300 people in its first year
Trustee chief says Suffolk is making good progress but not all advice gaps have been filled.
Estates solicitor struck off after undervaluing client assets by £50k
Tribunal hears Richard Steven Davies took more than double the costs that appeared in estate accounts.
NAHL profits down as £800k spent preparing for PI reforms
Company launches another joint venture with law firm as it targets revenue from whole claim.
Legal charity intervenes in Miller Supreme Court appeal
Prime minister accused of 'law-making by executive order' as hearing opens today.
Unduly lenient sentence review scheme extended further
Victims can ask for tougher sentences for 14 additional offences, the Ministry of Justice announces.
Bar delays 'anti-abuse' written contracts for pupils
Bar regulator says more time is needed to roll out the changes.
Society urges long term approach to justice technology
Duplication of effort illustrates need for shared solutions to shared problem statements, Chancery Lane says.
Paralegal’s contempt conviction found to be ‘manifestly unfair’
Family judge had imposed a suspended prison sentence for breach of procedural rules.
Rosenblatt spreads its wings with corporate finance acquisition
£22m acquisition as part of strategy to diversify beyond legal services.
Hong Kong abandons new constraints on foreign lawyers
Law Society of England and Wales welcomes the decision to scrap controversial practising rights proposals.
Sitting on the offence
Readers will be aware of issues surrounding the right to be forgotten, which gives some of those with a blemish in their past the chance to erase it from Google searches.
Fun and games down the aisle
Getting married is by no means a game but academics at the University of Glasgow have come up with an entertaining way to help lay people understand the legal implications.
Winging it in the classroom
A conversation in a legal London hostelry the other night set Obiter thinking about how creative solicitors can get away with winging it (sic) in the new world of self-assessed continuing competence.
Memory lane 16 September 2019
A stroll down Gazette memory lane.
News focus: Why comparison sites can't seem to crack the legal sector
Competition watchdogs have bemoaned the dearth of comparison sites in the law. But is there a real appetite for ‘shopping’ among law firms and clients wedded to traditional consumer habits?
Struck-off solicitor who misled client was dishonest, rules judge
Norwich solicitor fails in attempt to have SDT decision overturned.
Former Akin Gump partner charged over expenses claims
Igor Krivoshekov resigned following an internal investigation, firm says.
Johnson pledges to reintroduce domestic abuse legislation
Prime minister says he is committed to tackling the 'horrific' crime after criticism for not carrying over bill.
Litigation funder secures £92m investment in boost to sector
Augusta managing director says new funding is ‘strong endorsement’ of the industry.
Regional law firms doing better than City - survey
Two-thirds of firms increased PEP in the last financial year.
Look for signs your clients are slaves, solicitors told
Lawyers must spot where clients are slaves.
Court closures to continue as £1bn upgrade lags
HMCTS has earmarked 77 unnamed courts and tribunals for closure in the coming years.
Veteran solicitor overpaid client as compliance pressure mounted
Bristol lawyer agrees to remove himself from the roll after admitting problems with running his firm.
Coalition prepares to sue DPP over rape prosecution numbers
Max Hill QC says he understands concerns following publication of latest Violence against Women and Girls report.
‘Must-read’ practice guidance for solicitors going it alone
Solicitors can work as freelancers or in unauthorised businesses from 25 November following a radical overhaul of regulation.
Parliament prorogation halts probate fees hike
Law Society says it will campaign against any attempt to reintroduce the 'tax on grief'.
Lawyer in the news: Elaine Motion on Scotland’s prorogation ruling
Chairman of Balfour+Manson, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Campaigners hit £200k fundraising target to defend prorogation judgment
Boris Johnson is appealing decision of Scotland's highest court that his advice to the Queen was unlawful.
Linklaters drops trainee application form for online skills test
Magic circle firm wants to focus more on candidates' thought process.
Downing Street revives 'Enemies of the People’ row
Number 10 briefing in wake of prorogation judgment evoked Mail’s infamous headline - prompting a swift response from the lord chancellor.
Tribunal fines solicitor found in contempt over breached court order
Mohammed Younis said he acted out of a promise made to his father.
Solicitors 'paying lip service' to business skills, say researchers
Latest bellwether report suggests solicitors are too comfortable in their role as problem-solver.
New justice minister backs £10k small claims limit
Croydon South MP has been an outspoken critic of the personal injury sector for several years.
Scottish judges rule prorogation unlawful
Blow for Boris Johnson afer a separate challenge in England and Wales was dismissed.
Top Liverpool solicitor reaches career half-century
Law firm director represented Winnie Johnson, mother of Moors Murder victim Keith Bennett.
Right to be forgotten… in 60 years’ time
SDT updates its judgment publication policy.
Belgian lawyer gets EC justice commissioner role
Didier Reynders takes over brief from Vera Jourova in Ursula von der Leyen commission.
Justice bills fall overnight as parliament shuts down
Domestic abuse and divorce legislation both spiked as government enacts prorogation.
Senior judge among resignation honour nominees
Lady Justice Hallett heads towards the House of Lords.
Barrister has 'strongly worded feedback' on flexible operating hours
Housing specialist had a case listed for 8am at Brentford County Court today.
Whiplash lawyer demise ‘good news’ says listed credit hire firm
Integrated claims services provider Anexo announces 60% jump in half-year profits.
Deloitte muscles into legal education with first trainee solicitors
Graduate programme based on SQE will begin next year and give trainees exposure to wider business.
Ask about children before sentencing, MPs and peers tell judges
Joint Committee on Human Rights says the court must assess the impact of the sentence on dependants.
PI giant back in profit - after £1.2m spend on redundancies
Bristol-headquartered firm says it is now in position to deal with personal injury reforms.
Bar offers free app to report bullying and harassment
Barristers will be able to talk to anonymous 'bot to make contemporaneous records.
HMRC escapes costs after defending appeal over ‘chaotic’ decision
Judge makes clear that a case with merits cannot be treated the same as a case which is obviously meritorious.
Buckland's history lesson for the PM
The lord chancellor spoke to Boris Johnson about the importance of the rule of law.
Solicitor eyeing retirement lost control as his firm collapsed
Midlands practitioner allowed two unchecked people to run immigration arm, with disastrous consequences.
Crown court sitting days decision 'political' - senior presiding judge
Lady Justice Macur says allocation has been chopped from 97,400 in 2018/19 to 82,300 in 2019/20.
Law centres fight flexible hours pilot
A long-awaited pilot of flexible court hours began last week –and two law centres made clear their feelings on the controversial initiative.
BT's legal outsourcing to set a trend
More major corporates are likely to hive off parts of their legal function, according to a solicitor who acted for telecoms giant BT in its legal outsourcing project.
News focus: Signature moves
Law Commission confirms electronic signatures are valid and admissible as evidence in proceedings, while backing Law Society warning on lasting powers of attorney.
Regulator fee cut and other news in brief
Regulator fee cut
Chancery Lane’s traffic-free lunch
A string quartet, a beehive, a smoothie bike and a karaoke stall together with numerous food stalls and several bars were among the attractions popping up on London’s main legal thoroughfare last week. Chancery Lane closed to traffic for three lunchtimes in succession as part of the Lunchtime Streets initiative ...
Linklaters’ purple ways
In an apparent bid to connect with youth culture, magic circle firm Linklaters has re-designed the offer letter it sends out to future trainees. Gone are the days when a monochrome typed document was enough – successful recruits will now receive a purple-themed, eco-friendly letter devoid of legalese.
Filler whale
A review copy of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: International Legal and Regulatory Challenges (Bloomsbury Professional) lands on Obiter’s desk with a gratifying thump. At 357 pages from three expert authors, it looks a weighty and timely briefing on the legal questions raised by new encryption techniques.
Reading the Riot Act 100 years on
The last time the Riot Act was officially read in England was in 1919 in Liverpool during the second police strike.
Funder defies litigation market uncertainty with Vannin acquisition
Buy-out by New York investment manager follows Vannin's decision to abandon London Stock Exchange flotation.
Alcoholic former solicitor banned for assaulting paramedics
SDT strikes off non-practising solicitor after conviction at Leeds Crown Court.
Linklaters mourns equity partner after fatal cycling accident
Iain Wagstaff described as an ’exceptional lawyer and a great friend’.
US legal business takes stock and backs out of IPO
Private equity investor steps in to fund Axiom expansion.
Fraudster who posed as solicitor jailed for four years
Stephen Davey pretended to represent women in family court cases and told one mother she had won full custody of her children.
German lawyer really wanted to be a millionaire
Avid fan of TV quiz show who reconstructed the studio in his home hits the jackpot.
Miller prorogation challenge heads to Supreme Court
UK's highest court expected to hear the case on 17 September.
