Law Society unveils climate resolution
I. Stephanie Boyce said solicitors can play ‘a crucial role’ in tackling climate change.
Barrister sanctioned over his own 'dishonest' RTA claim
Nine-month practising certificate bar 'reflects the expectation that barristers are not only honest but seen to act honestly'.
Nigerian technology specialist expands to UK
TLP Advisory says move will position it as a conduit between African startups and leading investment markets.
Callow junior left to run firm rebuked over conveyancing failures
Practitioner had been a solicitor for less than a year when she took control at Halifax firm.
Early users warned HMCTS about Common Platform problem
Practitioners repeatedly struggling to access cases due to error-free requirement, Gazette can reveal.
Concerns raised over JR bill’s court reforms
Lord chancellor says bill will ‘streamline procedures’ and help tackle backlog.
I was 'young and naïve', shadow justice secretary explains
David Lammy’s legislating past comes back to haunt him.
Budget 21: Tax advisers in line for new sanctions
Finance bill will allow HMRC to freeze assets of ’promoters’ until penalties are paid.
JR bill cruises through Commons vote as rebellion fails to materialise
Justice secretary Dominic Raab says allowing so many flawed challenges to upper tribunal rulings ‘skews the system’.
'The government has listened' - Chancery Lane welcomes budget boost
Chancellor announces billion-pound investment to increase capacity and efficiency across the courts system.
Killer of retired CPS lawyer gets 33-year term
Martin Decker, a former senior lawyer, was murdered in his Wirral home in March.
Budget 21: MoJ set for windfall with 4.1% real terms increase by 2025
Commitments for this year include £324m to increase court capacity and more people eligible for legal aid.
Budget 21: Backlog funding ‘window dressing’
Criminal Bar Association said the budget shows ‘lack of joined-up thinking’.
North-west PI firm goes under with all staff made redundant
Administrators appointed last week at Hampson Hughes after efforts to rescue business failed.
Workers win Supreme Court ruling on union rights
Kostal UK Ltd was found to have ‘dishonoured’ a non-legally binding recognition agreement with trade union Unite.
Ince makes bid for listed corporate adviser
£10m takeover of Arden partners would create a one-stop shop for professional services and investment banking.
UK ‘washing hands’ of Britons in Syria - former DPP
Lord Macdonald said it was ‘demeaning to the British state to be washing its hands of its own citizens’.
US private equity moves in to snap up biggest PI firm
Management clear-out of north-west firm as Sun Capital Partners moves in.
Solicitor struck off for dishonest evidence opens appeal
London practitioner was found to have ‘knowingly given untrue evidence’ in a High Court claim.
SRA to look again at advocacy standards
New business plan also includes plans for continuing competency and a further AML crackdown.
Barrister disbarred after sexual assault conviction
Bristol practitioner asked 'Person A' to lie about events that took place in the early hours of the morning.
JR bill back in Commons as Davis threatens to rebel
Former cabinet minister says legislation is an 'obvious attempt’ to avoid accountability.
Pro bono week turns 20
The focus is on the future as well as the past as Pro Bono Week celebrates its 20th anniversary from Monday.
Siblings appeal strike-off over property scheme advice
Former solicitors were found to have protected their own financial interests over their clients’.
Appeal court overturns ruling in sex-worker visit case
Care worker who ‘intentionally causes or incites’ someone with a ‘mental disorder’ to engage in sexual activity can be jailed for 10 years.
Hogan Lovells wins partial victory in conflict claim
Ukrainian businessman is suing the international firm for alleged breaches of duty.
Serial LiP with conspiracy claims against 13 lawyers is ordered to stop
Judge says civil restraint order is necessary to protect both the claimant and the solicitors, and firms he pursues.
Barrister who deceived wife for divorce loses disbarral challenge
High Court finds there was no procedural error or unfair finding in bar tribunal’s decision.
Probate experts warn against online wills
Research firm predicts surge in contested probate cases as a result of online wills written during the pandemic.
News focus: Should the right to justice override the principle of transparency?
A claimant’s request for anonymity has renewed debate.
Back to walk!
More than 8,500 walkers joined last week’s long-awaited return of the London Legal Walk.
Ex-presidents leave Law Society Council
Chancery Lane’s governing Council saw 31 members, including three former Society presidents, step down at this month’s annual general meeting.
Emails intercepted in £640,000 conveyancing fraud
Law Society, National Economic Crime Centre and National Crime Agency unveil anti-scam campaign.
Neuberger 'unconvinced' by JR reform arguments
Former Supreme Court president says political involvement is part of judicial role.
SRA approves PII clause clarifying cybercrime cover
Regulator says addition to minimum terms and conditions can provide clarity without pushing up premiums.
Taylor Wessing mourns stalwart who was with firm for 35 years
Real estate specialist John Whitfield 'hugely respected within and outside of the firm'.
Small businesses are crying out for lawtech, government-backed initiative claims
Report by LawtechUK and Legal Services Board says many SMEs do not know when or whether to involve lawyers.
SDT starts drive to recruit 25 new members
Tribunal makes biggest recruitment push in more than a decade.
Veteran solicitor agrees to be struck off after almost 50 years on roll
London solicitor allowed firm’s client account to be used as banking facility for decades.
Court backlog 'will remain a problem for years to come' - National Audit Office
Public spending watchdog identifies risks to court recovery efforts.
Blue plaque for trailblazing woman barrister
Helena Normanton was the first woman to practise at the bar and one of the first two to take silk.
Open judicial training to FoI scrutiny, tribunal urged
Judicial College is not currently subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
Widow wins right to sue Cairo hotel in English courts
Supreme Court decision provides 'welcome clarity' for travellers who are injured or killed in accidents abroad.
Most whiplash claimants still relying on lawyer for portal
First statistics for Official Injury Claim site show 90% of claimants are represented - but overall numbers are down.
New Zealand deal will 'drive collaboration' between regulators
Free trade agreement will make it easier for UK lawyers to practise in New Zealand, government says.
Change is coming to the Law Society Gazette
Weekly magazine to go fully digital from January.
'Claims R Us' portal could transform civil justice, says master of the rolls
Triage service for all-comers would direct claims to the right online location to resolve their dispute.
Government tight-lipped on legal aid reforms despite inquiry report
Justice minister praises cross-party commission's 'brilliant effort' on examining sustainability issues.
Green signal for railway group action
Train operating companies are accused of overcharging travelcard holders, in opt-out class action.
Gateley staff in line for windfall as share scheme matures
Listed firm has applied for almost 300,000 new ordinary shares to be admitted to trading on AIM.
Court rejects £150,000 costs cap that would have killed off claims
Case believed to be the first application for a capping order since costs budgeting began.
Consumer panel speaks out over ‘woeful decline’ in justice spending
Organisation makes rare criticism of the government ahead of next week’s crucial spending review.
Unfair proceedings ruling over advocate ‘with soft voice and hand in pocket’
Court rules that magistrates’ court hearing was not fair to claimant who was 20ft away from bench.
Bar to clamp down on chambers that keep quiet about fees
A 'significant minority' of sets are not meeting transparency requirements, says Bar Standards Board.
'Tick box’ AML regime isn’t working, Society tells Treasury
Chancery Lane pushes for a risk-based approach which takes pressure off small firms.
'Huge increase in political litigation': Braverman defends JR reforms
Attorney general tells public law specialists that judges should not be asked to decide political matters.
Court orders that SRA be given access to shut down firm’s files
Solicitor subject to intervention said former clients did not need regulator to be involved.
Gallery: London Legal Walk 2021
Law’s biggest annual fundraising event was back in-person yesterday, for the first time since 2019.
Court in a trap
Supreme Court hears an appeal into itself.
Ex-stripper could have to drop ET claim after being refused right to anonymity
Appeal tribunal finds that stigma of work as a stripper is not enough to stop open justice.
Rebranded council ABS 'not trying to compete with private practice'
Executive director explains why local authority firm changed its name and how it wants to be seen within the profession.
Largest ever legal aid inquiry calls for independent fee review
Cross-party commission held evidence sessions with several frontline practitioners.
Eco-barrister denies 'publicity stunt' in Supreme Court appeal
Tim Crosland tells Supreme Court that three of its justices were 'not independent or impartial' in May judgment.
Society will fight to save SIF from closure
Council resolution says that extension of fund is in interests of profession and public.
It’s on! 8,500 to walk for justice
The London Legal Walk is back, starting and finishing in Carey Street this afternoon.
'Female-friendly' firm signs menopause pledge
Kingsley Napley one of two law firms so far to join campaign.
News focus: Time for Westminster to let go of Wales?
Cardiff and London remain at loggerheads on devolving justice and policing to Wales.
Experts getting tied up in knots
The recent roasting of an expert in Reynolds v Stanbury shows how experts can be a liability to the side calling them.
Twitter on a roll over marbles
Mark Stephens CBE’s tour de force at the SPG conference tweaked the British lion’s tail.
‘Mr Bitcoin’ has bit between his teeth
Among the global bitcoin community the identity of ‘Satoshi Nakamoto’ is a mystery.
Wolfson goes back to his roots
Lord Wolfson of Tredegar faced an unusual dilemma after becoming a justice minister.
Firms on ‘hiding to nothing’ with SDT inequality of arms
Regulatory specialist says problem of funding for tribunal cases is becoming more acute as insurance market tightens.
School’s out for Weightmans’ class of 13
National firm welcomes recruits to its first solicitor apprenticeship programme.
HR reform: Raab plans mechanism to correct 'incorrect' judgments
Consultation on government's proposals to reform 1998 act expected within the next two months.
Law Societies condemn 'harmful' economic crime levy
New tax will play into the hands of rival jurisdictions seeking investment, professional body warns.
CFA costs payable as part of maintenance award, CoA rules
Court agrees success fee in inheritance case can be classed as a debt.
BSB promises to tackle 'ageing' bar
The average age of a practising barrister has risen from 38.5 in 1990-91 to 46.5 in 2019-20.
Heathrow protest barrister gears up for Supreme Court appeal
Tim Crosland was found in contempt of court by three Supreme Court justices in May.
Customer happiness just as important as outcome, firms tell survey
More firms also engaging with review sites - but not necessarily the negative reviews.
Law Society hails legislative coups at president's inauguration
I. Stephanie Boyce spoke of ‘clear definitive successes’ in preserving the rule of law.
MPs prepare to debate judicial review reforms
Controversial Judicial Review and Courts Bill has second reading in House of Commons next week.
Top 200 firms in advanced talks to merge from next year
Merger would create a business with a staff of more than 500.
A&O matches rival with £107,500 NQ starting salary
City firms fight for top graduates amid talent shortage.
Common Platform blip 'illustrates danger of overestimating technology'
Lord chief justice revealed rollout of digital case management system was paused.
SFO ends Quindell investigation after six years
Investigators say evidence does not support a potential conviction.
Society voices 'genuine concerns' about power of attorney reforms
Safeguards cannot be put at risk as a result of digitalisation drive, says professional body.
Burford earmarks $100m for cases led by diverse lawyers
‘Vanishingly few’ commercial disputes led by women or ‘racially diverse’ lawyers, says funder.
SRA visits 85 firms in a year as part of AML crackdown
Professional supervisor figures give indication of work being done to enforce regulations.
‘Chance to get ahead’: Undergrads to take SQE course
Students at Solent University will be offered SQE module to accelerate their solicitor training.
The old normal? Official stats reveal summer dip
Legal sector turnover fell as expected in August - but was well ahead of the previous year.