Solicitor judge reappointed as senior judicial commissioner
Judicial Appointments Commission announces the year-long reappointment of The Honourable Mr Justice Adam Johnson.
Society welcomes renters' rights legislation
Measure 'helps level the playing field between tenants and landlords', Chancery Lane says.
Former trader Hayes returns to court seeking $400m in damages
Exonerated Tom Hayes, who filed a claim for malicious prosecution against his former employer UBS, is seeking a jury trial in the United States.
Firm boss struck off for taking client money and issuing bad cheques
Immigration firm sole principal who misappropriated £160,000 admits all allegations against him.
No offers to buy ‘Ping your Lawyer’ app which cost millions
LawBit Ltd, the company behind Lawbite, is in administration after falling £5.8m into debt.
Justice charity to invite bids for collective action millions
Access to Justice Foundation publishes approach to grant-making following £3.8 million award.
New whistleblowing guidance for in-house lawyers
Latest version of ethics framework considers how a solicitor’s duty to whistleblow could conflict with client confidentiality.
You could just have stood up, judge tells barrister 'denied chance to speak'
'No evidence' lawyer, representing his wife over a liability notice to pay council tax, ‘was prevented from standing up'.
Call to tackle 'aggressive' costs strategies in class actions
Defendants have a 'perverse incentive' to rack up costs, class representatives tell government.
Lost King defamation action settles ahead of trial
Feature film depicted academic as 'smug, unduly dismissive and patronising'.
‘Gross exaggeration’: Court slashes firm's costs after 'inexplicable' error
Firm accepted costs were too high but explained this as an ‘inadvertent oversight’.
Tube passengers hammered
Latest sighting of an inappropriate gavel.
Data removal fees scrapped for vulnerable people
Victims of violence and domestic abuse involved in debt proceedings will no longer have to pay £318 fee to have personal details removed.
LAA system was 'extremely high risk' in 2021, MPs told
Ministry of Justice officials say cyber attack was detected as a result of security measures to fix system vulnerability.
Review of stalking laws follows 'super-complaint'
Exercise will be ‘conducted rapidly to identify any gaps in existing legislation’, Richard Wright KC says.
Justice unveils blueprint to cut remand population
Legal thinktank says too many people are being unnecessarily jailed before their trial.
LPP no 'cast iron defence' to solicitors' phones being searched, say police
Lawyer who represented Hamas in proscription case is taking legal action to stop police searching his phone.
Supreme Court announces new deputy president
Lord Sales will take up the post in January 2026.
SRA planning 'more intrusion' into law firms in wake of SSB debacle
Firms may be questioned on the types of work they do, their reliance on certain practice areas and arrangements with litigation funders.
Eminent silk urges SRA to lift threat of pre-Mazur prosecutions
Meanwhile, CILEX regulator decides that legal executives do not need to report themselves for conducting litigation.
Leaving claim form in reception for courier is not valid service, Court of Appeal rules
Firm acting for occupants of block damaged by fire left documents out after 'frantic faxing' failed shortly before a service deadline.
Supreme Court dismisses appeal over costs order currency in multi-billion-dollar arbitration case
‘No reason to award costs in this case other than in sterling,’ five justices agree.
Tax lawyer Neidle facing £8m libel claim from barrister
Former Clifford Chance tax chief has applied for the action to be struck out as a SLAPP.
MPs urge government to provide Mazur clarity
Justice committee chair asks minister to look into whether Legal Services Act should be amended.
Special educational needs white paper delayed
Publication of paper setting out fundamental government reforms in policy and law covering special educational needs will now appear ‘early in new year’.
Law firms on 'named and shamed' minimum wage list
Annual list identifies 500 businesses which received fines totalling £10.2 million.
Probation officers to benefit from government's AI deal
Announcement latest step in plan to make MoJ the 'leading digital and AI department in government’.
BHP asks High Court to block Pogust Goodhead's US proceedings
Firm is seeking evidence from a witness for not yet issued English proceedings which mining company describes as ‘oppressive’ and ‘unjust’.
City lawyers urge Reeves to consult on 'short-sighted' LLP tax move
Plea comes as advisers warn that dividend tax rates could also be targeted as partnerships seek to limit their exposure.
Hackers breached LAA system four months before attack
Timing of attack revealed in Legal Aid Agency's latest annual report.
Ex-solicitor fails in costly bid to return to profession
Tribunal says former sole practitioner has refused to acknowledge that original findings were correct.
LLP member? Tax Policy Associates calculator will tell you how much more you will pay
Former Clifford Chance tax chief Dan Neidle, of Tax Policy Associates, has devised a calculator for LLP members who want to know how much more they stand to pay.
Family law reforms 'prioritise children’s safety'
Changes hailed as 'landmark shift in how the legal system values safety, dignity, and truth'.
Conveyancing process targeted in 'bureaucracy blitz'
Minister pledge to fund new land data framework and impose standards for sharing upfront property information.
'Disappointed' SRA points to City watchdog's AML knowledge gaps
'The Financial Conduct Authority will have to develop an expertise which it doesn’t have at the moment,' says SRA chair Anna Bradley.
Bristol firm starts its own referral network to find clients a lawyer
Network members sign up to non-poaching pledge which protects referring firm’s client relationship.
Chancellor poised to end LLP tax breaks for lawyers
Rachel Reeves' budget will remove NI exemption for partners - potentially adding over £100,000 to tax bills of top City earners.
Stray barrister’s day at the races
I still think of barrister Billy Rees-Davies QC, rogue that he was, with great affection.
Bill amendment widens NDA protections
Measure will allow victims and direct witnesses of crime to disclose information about the conduct to anyone and for any purpose.
Government strips SRA of anti-money laundering powers
Responsibility for AML and counter-terrorism financing supervision will pass to the Financial Conduct Authority.
We need continuity of leadership, says SRA chair after damning SSB report
SRA now looking to be ‘more intrusive’ to spot risks at an earlier stage.
Strike-off for misleading divorce client and firm
Solicitor of 18 years maintained pretence for three months that she was awaiting requested information.
Ex-solicitor caught in immigration sting barred from further litigation
Former practitioner struck off in 2023 has an ‘inability to accept defeat’, High Court finds following nine totally without merit orders.
Legal aid lawyers 'entitled to cyber attack compensation'
Law Society says practitioners should record how much extra time they are spending on cases.
Fast worker
Alexander Morgan, partner at national firm Knights, races classic cars competitively.
New date set for court documents pilot
Access to public domain documents pilot to begin on 1 January.
SRA leaders face the music at annual conference
More than 1,000 compliance officers will be in Birmingham tomorrow.
SSB scandal exposes 'systemic shortcomings', says consumer watchdog
Regulatory framework 'does not prevent harm' and must be reformed, declares Legal Services Consumer Panel.
Court of Appeal allows lawyer's harassment claim against former employer
Registered foreign lawyer may bring case at common law even if particulars of claim do not spell that out, judges rule.
Magistrate sanctioned for citing position in election campaign
JCIO issues formal advice over promotional leaflet referring to judicial role.
In depth: Litigation funders tap private credit market
As more traditional investment sources dry up, litigation funders are seeking to tap the private credit market. But the industry will have to adapt if such capital flows are to endure.
CILEX row with ex-president escalates with data protection warning
Representative body for legal executives accused of 'moving the goalposts' for refusing subject access request.
Free speech includes right to express views that 'offend, shock or disturb'
Appeal of conviction over a one-man protest outside the Turkish consulate is allowed by judge and two magistrates.
In depth: SSB Law - how regulator failed to defuse timebomb
Carson McDowell’s excoriating verdict on the SRA’s handling of the SSB Law crisis describes multiple missed opportunities to protect vulnerable clients. Yet no one has been held formally accountable.
New property information form 'less legalistic', conveyancers told
Working group members reveal scale of operation to get property information form right.
Public spending watchdog calls for clin neg costs curbs
National Audit Office report points out that lawyers’ fees are 3.7 times higher than damages awarded to claimants in cases worth under £25,000.
‘I was an easy target,’ says cleared solicitor ordered to pay SRA’s costs
David Mark Turner says it is 'very harsh' that he had to pay almost £11,000, despite being exonerated at tribunal.
Barrister takes family pet campaign to parliament
Founder of Ruby's Law says people are staying in abusive relationships because they are worried about their pets.
SSB victims angry and confused by lack of accountability
Barrister owed £260k calls for SRA board to resign, as it emerges that staff described one complainant as a ‘busybody’.
County court improving, insists government as it rejects call for civil justice review
New digital services are proving their worth in supporting swifter access to justice, minister tells MPs.
This is ‘not another VW scandal’, court hears as car giants make dieselgate openings
Judgment in the claim on behalf of 1.6 million motorists is expected next summer.
Society issues Mazur guidance - but 'grey areas' remain
Much of the work involved in litigation can still be carried out by non-authorised staff, says Chancery Lane.
Former solicitor-judge jailed for defrauding clients over 15 years
Sean Callaghan, struck off in 2022, operated a ‘web of deception’ to steal £350,000.
Victims of crime doubt fairness of system
Victims' commissioner says people will stop reporting crimes if they lose faith in the criminal justice system.
A scandal in the making: SSB Law timeline
October 2018 - May 2024.
SRA chair says sorry for SSB failings - but rebuffs calls to quit
Law Society says 'wholesale change' needed at frontline regulator.
SSB Law: SRA ignored red flags for five years, damning report finds
More than 100 reports were made about potential misconduct but systemic failings prevented SRA from taking earlier action.
Of mice and ministers
One-time junior barrister recalls days before digital evidence.
Firm spends millions on acquisitions as business continues investing
Fletchers says private equity owners want to re-invest every penny as they approach five years in charge.
'Debate must start now' on AI judicial decision-making, says master of the rolls
Artificial intelligence can be used - but whether it should be poses 'difficult and potentially troubling' questions, Sir Geoffrey Vos tells lawtech gathering.
Garden Court hits back after Jenrick attacks immigration judges
Chambers said judges’ experience in charitable and human rights work 'informs rather than diminishes their standing'.
Solicitor’s role as legal representative terminated by family court
Blanket prohibition on acting in parallel proceedings would be 'disproportionate and unnecessary', family division chief says.
Ban for trainee who helped brother evade murder prosecution
Conveyancing worker did not tell law firm of her conviction for assisting an offender.
Top Liverpool solicitor rebuked over £37,000 payments to prisoners
Warnings not to allow client account to be used as banking facility were ignored, SRA notice reveals.
SC slams door on defendant bid to appeal key ruling for class actions
Highest court refuses Apple permission to appeal decision that funder's fee can be paid before damages distributed to class members.
Collective actions regime enables 'unjustified windfall'
Access to justice charity seeks nomination for unclaimed cash for cases that settle before trial.
Hospital hit with costs penalty after wrongly alleging dishonesty
Defendants should not be given ‘free tilt’ at raising fundamental dishonesty accusations, judge rules.
‘SLAPPs’ SDT case to be heard in private following anonymity order breach
Three-person panel found it could not ‘adequately protect’ client privilege in a public session following breach by newspaper.
Strasbourg warns UK on policing of demonstrations and trans rights
Human rights commissioner cites arrests of Palestine Action demonstrators and interpretation of Supreme Court's decision in For Women Scotland.
Law tech community's 'festival vibe' lives on after transatlantic takeover
Legal Geek, which currently runs the government-funded LawtechUK initiative, has been acquired by legal information giant.
Weightmans floats top-30 ambitions
'Being in the middle isn’t a good generator of critical mass,' says Sarah Walton, national firm’s newly elected managing partner.
Pogust Goodhead to continue as co-leader in dieselgate trial
Firm says it is ‘fully committed to successfully litigating this historic case’.
PI solicitor struck off for concealing 'catastrophic' medical records
Solicitor of 23 years feared that medical records would open client up to 'fundamental dishonesty' attack.
Wales legal chief ‘unequivocal’ that separation is off the agenda
'No Welsh government is going to be advocating for blocking Welsh lawyers from English markets,' counsel general says.
‘The law supports our case at every turn,' High Court hears as dieselgate case opens
Opening statements in three-month hearing to test whether 'defeat devices' were used to game motor emissions rules.
CILEx Regulation fast-tracks bid for litigation rights as LSB steps in
Frontline regulators met last week to discuss ways to end uncertainty over High Court decision in Mazur.
'Simpler' property information form unveiled
Law Society says latest version of TA6 has been tested by sellers and conveyancers to ensure it is practical.
In depth: What the latest homebuying overhaul could mean for conveyancers
Labour’s plans to ‘shake up the homebuying system’ will sound wearily familiar to overloaded conveyancers, who highlighted several key issues that the government’s consultation fails to address.
ECtHR 'more necessary and relevant' now, says outgoing UK judge
Leading silk says he ‘hardly recognises’ the good work of the ECHR from recent criticism of Strasbourg court.
Goodbye to ‘Dear Sirs’, as Society changes guidance
Chancery Lane says outdated term is no longer accurate or representative of legal profession.