Third time, er, lucky?
A record of played two, lost two would normally be a cause for some introspection. But not for the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Annual clinical negligence costs soar past £3bn
NHS Resolution figures suggest costs are still not being brought under control.
Stalker turned up at KC's chambers, court hears
Man admits one charge of stalking and will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court at a later date.
BBC exposé prompts conveyancing referral fees review
Council for Licensed Conveyancers says programme raised serious concerns about conditional selling.
In depth: Starting gun fired on digital justice revolution
The advent of the OPRC marks the start of a ‘groundbreaking and genuinely transformational’ migration to digital justice, master of the rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos said this week. But there is a distance to travel yet.
Afghan data leak: government faces wave of compensation claims
Immigration lawyers say compensation is important but no replacement for a safe route to protection.
Solicitors still ‘high risk’ for money laundering, government review finds
First risk assessment for five years finds that volume of cases of suspected money laundering which involve lawyers remains high.
JAC must use negative material fairly, Court of Appeal rules
District judge took Judicial Appointments Commission to court following unsuccessful application to join circuit bench.
Mining giant seeks higher damages from SFO
Judgment was reserved in the latest twist of the eight-year litigation between ENRC, the Serious Fraud Office and Dechert.
Profits up at international firms
Taylor Wessing reports 12.3% rise; DAC Beachcroft 7.1%.
MR backs legal aid for early advice
Master of the rolls also warns that AI refuseniks must ‘face the consequences’ of being left behind.
High Court rejects anonymity plea from discredited expert
Doctor had produced ‘fundamentally flawed’ report challenging previous court finding.
MoJ urged to produce mission statement for prisons
House of Lords committee says there is a lack of clarity on what objectives should be prioritised.
Chancel repair proposals remove 'unnecessary' conveyancing costs
Law Commission says Land Registration Act 2002 should be amended to clarify homeowners' liability.
'Borderline negligent' housing disrepair solicitors ordered to pay costs
City of York Council says claims are diverting time and money from fixing tenants’ homes.
Fee-earner forwarded client details to new address
Solicitors Regulation Authority says law firm employee's actions were beyond naive or foolish.
New court track proposed for essential patents
Government proposals aim to tackle 'systemic issues' around transparency and dispute resolution.
Income rises but profits slide at listed law firm pioneer
Gateley pleased with core profitability given unpredictable economic backdrop.
Barrister disbarred over rape convictions
Five-person panel sitting on the Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service said ‘horrendous offences’ required ‘only one realistic sanction’.
Councillor quits cabinet post after SRA shuts down his firm
London borough issues statement following intervention in former mayor's practice.
Early handling of rape cases 'not good enough', CPS watchdog finds
Prosecutors criticised for interrogating victim credibility but not scrutinising suspects' behaviours and actions.
Firm to pay £78k after AML case goes to tribunal
Tribunal says it was a ‘matter of luck’ that criminals had not exploited firm’s deficiences.
Government brings in SRA for bulk litigation talks
Massive increase in enforcement action against firms involved in financial claims, housing disrepair and cavity wall.
Judge right not to recuse herself from tribunal
Employment judge was asked to step down over her previous work acting in equal pay claims.
City paralegal who faked signatures feared losing his job
Experienced Cooley employee admitted misleading his colleagues and resigned soon afterwards.
In depth: Decoding muddy ministerial messages on special educational needs
After mixed messaging on its plans for the SEND Tribunal, the government is refusing to guarantee what needs provision will remain in place. And why no mention of local authorities?
Memory lane
'Murder by Lord Lucan', barristers' direct access push and a body on the steps of the Law Society: a stroll down Gazette memory lane.
SRA given deadlines for implementing Axiom Ince lessons
Changes will involve greater scrutiny of mergers and of firms’ financial positions.
Reoffending no higher under release scheme, says prisons minister
Lord Timpson says reoffending rate ‘no more than we normally see’, but probation service is 'really struggling'.
Celebrities’ Mail case must not become public inquiry, judge warns
Lawyers for Prince Harry, Elton John and others ordered to disclose documents relating to payments to witnesses.
SRA shuts down Labour councillor's law firm
Regulator intervenes in west London firm run by former mayor over dishonesty suspicions.
In depth: Criminal justice crisis - lawyers react to Leveson's radical blueprint
'Essential measures’ needed to prevent ‘total collapse’ - Crown court backlogs, jury trials and ‘perverse fee incentives’ all came under Sir Brian's critical gaze.
Speeding magistrate given formal advice for misconduct
JCIO says office holder gave ‘assurance that she would keep within the speed limit’.
Badly executed
Phrase ‘execution of judgments’ has to go, Lord Hermer tells Council of Europe’s summer school in Liverpool.
Fax for the memories
Civil Procedure Rule Committee delivers the coup de grâce for the ‘outdated’ fax machine.
Pay duty solicitors more for working 'unsocial hours', MoJ told
Law Society says police officers are struggling to get a solicitor to attend the station at night.
SFO makes new case for whistleblower incentives
SFO director Nick Ephgrave acknowledges organisation is driving the argument for whistleblower incentives.
In depth: Horror stories from the Post Office Horizon IT report
The first report of the Post Office inquiry highlights the personal experiences of those affected by the Horizon scandal, while condemning the lack of legal advice for compensation claims.
Dashcam evidence sends claim down the toilet
Clyde & Co released details this week about how it had thwarted the £81,000 claim of a driver
LALYs 25: Pillars of a decent society
The Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards highlighted the full gamut of critical work, from representing prisoners to family law and immigration. Such advice ensures that ‘people’s rights have real, practical meaning’.
No new money for 'open justice champions'
Initiative announced by Mr Justice Nicklin last month will help the public observe court proceedings.
Long-serving bookkeeper took £15,000 from firm
Non-solicitor, who resigned after the transfers were discovered, is barred from the profession.
Barrister with dementia had capacity to agree retainer, court rules
No evidence that client did not understand what he was doing when contract was signed.
Solicitor is first lead coroner for diversity and inclusion
Nadia Persaud, area coroner for London East, hopes her work in new role will ‘encourage a diverse range of young lawyers’ to aspire to judiciary career.
Magistrate accessed court database for personal reasons
Magistrate, who also referred to her judicial status during a related phone call, apologised for her actions.
Revealed: Deposed Post Office lawyers were paid £15m handover fee
Herbert Smith Freehills was removed from its role but received ‘transition contract’ by Post Office for handover.
Solicitors earn best value-for-money score since records began
Consumer panel's tracker survey also reveals record interest in unbundled legal services.
Husband ‘sought to isolate’ wife from her lawyer in multi-million-pound divorce
Mr Justice Cobb awards wife £230m after finding husband was ‘wrong’ to exclude solicitor from settlement discussions.
Ombudsman’s shame parade: complaint details published ‘in public interest’
Complaints handler gives details of three decisions against named firms - and says more are on the way.
'I do not need to be told…’ Leveson’s greatest hits
Criminal courts review has an acoustic quality compared with Sir Brian's earlier works.
Former Stobart boss disqualified over unpaid legal aid fees
Legal aid payments were distributed under contract but not transferred to expert witnesses, SRA says.
Hermer: Don’t fear discussing ECHR reform
International institutions must always evolve to retain public confidence, attorney general tells a friendly audience.
Clarke Willmott well set for growth after solid year’s results
Chief executive says ambitious 110-partner firm will not rest on past success.
Top Liverpool chambers merge
Joint heads of the new Hundred Court Chambers say merger is ‘huge opportunity’.
Leveson review: end 'perverse incentives' for solicitors
In wide-ranging 378-page criminal courts review, Sir Brian Leveson says legal aid fee systems discourage early guilty pleas.
Throwing the kitchen sink and missing
Appeal bid lost despite 35 grounds and 150 complaints about judge’s ruling.
Legal scepticism over government’s NDA ban
Move could give victims less control over what information makes it into the public domain.
Top-100 firms abandon merger talks
Cripps and Michelmores employ over 1,000 at offices across southern England.
Axiom Ince: SRA secures intervention costs order against ex-boss
Costs of the intervention have reached £5m ‘so far’, court hears in granting an unsecured creditor order.
Post Office Inquiry: Chair says employees covered up Horizon faults
Report says postmasters were victims of 'wholly unacceptable behaviour' by Post Office.
Jury trials could be curbed, Mahmood hints
Ahead of publication of Leveson review, Shabana Mahmood says jury trials take five times longer than cases heard in the magistrates' court.
'Indefensible': Post Office Inquiry chair slams lack of legal support for victims
Sir Wyn Williams submits long-awaited first report after conclusion of statutory inquiry.
Rulemakers to prevent solicitors refusing service by email
Civil Procedure Rule Committee also anticipates demise of the fast-disappearing fax machine.
Bona vacantia list taken offline following scams
List of unclaimed estates 'temporarily removed' Ministry of Justice reveals after media reports of probate fraud.
Harassment NDAs to be outlawed
Clause in Employment Rights Bill will require parties signing non-disclosure agreements to be offered independent legal advice.
Top-50 financial results table 2025: updated live
2024/25 results as they come in.
Confessions of a conveyancer
James Morton tries conveyancing.
In depth: Planning for a floating solar revolution
The government’s Solar Roadmap envisages trebling solar electricity generation capacity in the next five years. It also proposes fundamental changes to planning law, underpinned by £46m of investment.
Judicial Appointments Commission rejects 'secret soundings by back door' claim
Court of Appeal reserves judgment following two-day hearing over statutory consultation process.
Costs recovery leaders unite as court orders firm to answer questions on £750 transfer
High Court judge says it would not be disproportionate to ask firm about Gibraltar company which received payment from damages.
Lord chancellor consigns predecessor to the birdcage
Shabana Mahmood keeps her audience laughing as she addresses her second judges' dinner.
Court of Appeal ruling is a boost for litigation funders
Judges unanimously dismissed challenge to validity of deals involving returns based on multiples of funding provided.
Relief for class actions as CoA backs funding enforceability
Ruling on seven collective action appeals approves funding agreements amended following PACCAR ruling.
Barrister failed to ensure client's funds were held safely
Practitioner fined £4,000; six-month suspension ‘reflects seriousness of breaches’, says BSB.
Solicitor held in contempt to face SDT hearing
SRA confirms it will bring prosecution three years after court sentencing.
150 years of bragging (Clarkson) Wrights
Orpington-based Clarkson Wright & Jakes, Solicitors and Notaries can trace its roots back to 1875.
In depth: What Standish v Standish means for modern matrimonial disputes
The Supreme Court has ruled in Standish that the sharing principle does not apply to non-matrimonial property, but family lawyers are divided on how big an impact the judgment will have.
Not to be sniffed at
‘Smell detector’ devices to detect drugs was one idea pitched to prisons and probation minister to crack Crown court backlog.
The singer formerly known as ‘Pres’
Jonathan Smithers is one the Society’s more musical past presidents.
Another AI failure as fake cases cited by litigant in person
Tribunal warns against ChatGPT use after fake cases found in trade mark appeal.
Beddie-bye byes for Lord Hardwicke
Lord chancellor Philip Yorke did not receive a watch as his retirement gift.
Armless enough? No-hands cycling barrister divides opinion
Garden Court practitioner observed cycling with his arms stretched out wide and off the handlebars during rush hour, police say.
Bar plans enforcement shakeup
Solicitors would be eligible to chair disciplinary panels under extensive proposals published for consultation.
Legal aid fee uplifts 'not high enough' to rebuild sector
Legal aid sector says higher fee increases are needed if government wants to 'rebuild a more stable and sustainable' sector.
GLD vows to maintain London legal presence
Cabinet Office announced in May that 102 Petty France will close for good as part of a ‘Plan for London’.
Diversity report suggests solicitors still being barred from bench
Law Society says solicitors struggle to believe judicial recruitment is a level playing field, when barristers are appointed at a far higher rate.
Solicitor who tried to stop complaint to SRA struck off
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal says solicitor’s misconduct reflected a ‘troubling mind set’.
Open justice principle not there to support 'journalistic endeavour', CoA rules
Judgment in family case involving the BBC says application of open justice principle is ‘confined to the system of justice in the narrow sense’.
Judge throws out drug-driving case after CPS ignores emails
Lawyers defending accused sent three letters to a valid CPS email address, which went unanswered.
Carr warns of ‘grave threats’ to safety of judges
Lady chief justice, lord chancellor and lord mayor of London spoke at the annual Mansion House judges’ dinner.