Peers admonish MoJ over electronic wills delay
House of Lords committee questions why electronic documents can be used to amass but not bequeath an estate.
From Ukraine and Turkmenistan to legal London
Teenagers shadowed solicitors, heard from lawyers about their career paths and visited the Law Society and courts.
High Court judge and recorder sanctioned for delays
Judicial conduct guide states that office-holders should display diligence and care in discharging their duties.
Dozens at Weil London were already heading for the exit
Gibson Dunn is poised to complete move for funds team.
Call for public right to challenge SRA complaint decisions
Blind Justice UK founder says regulator refers only one in five complaints for investigation.
'I feel blessed': legal aid solicitor forced to quit UK returns
Hinckley law firm reached out to Hilda Kwoffie after reading about her immigration plight in the Gazette.
Stricken Weil’s juniors in limbo
City of London Law Society on standby to help UK trainees and junior lawyers potentially marooned by looming collapse of Wall Street firm.
Moderniser Vos retires as master of rolls
Lady chief justice pays tribute to 'most forward-thinking, innovative and technologically capable' holder of the 800-year-old office.
CJC reports on ‘safe’ use of artificial intelligence to prepare court documents
Civil Justice Council and CPRC must ’urgently consider’ guidance for litigants in person using AI in proceedings, says working group.
Memory lane
Crumbling ICC, bench boost for solicitors, and lawyers' invisibility: a stroll down Gazette memory lane.
Don't publicly criticise judges, Norris tells shadow
Lord chancellor publishes letter defending judiciary after counterpart publicly demanded investigation into deputy chief magistrate.
London lawyers at risk as Wall Street giant’s partners vote on closure
Weil, Gotshal & Manges, which has 45 partners and 200 solicitors in London, plans an ’orderly wind-down’.
Supreme Court backs insurers in oil spill case
Appeal allowed against Court of Appeal ruling on the consequences of breaking contractual obligation to arbitrate.
Profits soar at the University of Law
Law school posts bumper trading results after cutting staff numbers - including teachers.
New travel bench mark
Judges can look forward to a new perk: interest-free season ticket loans.
Budget 26: Client accounts escape chancellor's raid - for now
Treasury figures show spending will continue to be reined in at the Ministry of Justice.
Busy MR is out of this world
Is anyone really expecting Sir Geoffrey Vos suddenly to develop a passion for sitting around doing nothing?
Review jury service expenses, peers tell Sackman
Minister says expenses have not been reviewed since 2010 as government prioritised judges' sitting days and criminal legal aid.
Yorkshire firm prepares to call in administrators
Firm celebrated its 40th anniversary this month but future is unclear.
Government pledges more independence for Post Office claims
Compensation paid to 14,000 former postmaster claimants has now exceeded £1.7 billion.
Court of Appeal twice curbs millions claimed in lawyers’ costs
One judge shaves millions from a costs budget as another describes counsel fees as ‘astonishing’.
Stone King acquires tech and media law boutique
Bath-based national firm has grown rapidly over the past two years.
Budget 26: Society makes last-ditch call to block ILCA scheme
Raid on client account interest 'will add to the regulatory burden that firms face, while adding cost and impacting competitiveness'.
Starmer gives us a piggyback
Law Society’s Common Room hosts a screening of prize-winning documentary 'Ash and Crayons', about the plight of Ukraine’s children in Russia’s war.
Interim head appointed to Business and Property Division
Mrs Justice Joanna Smith will take up her role on 1 November when current president becomes master of the rolls.
'This is not a popularity contest', Milne's counsel tells court
Snaresbrook Crown Court adjourns decision in solicitor's stalking appeal after hearing closing submissions.
Mastercard and Visa face new £5bn group claim
Proposed class representative files claims on behalf of businesses.
In depth: Driverless cars - who will make the rules?
The capital is a testbed for driverless technology. But the London Assembly remains sceptical, which could jeopardise new opportunities for the automotive industry.
Individuals left in the dark over automated decision making
Public bodies are increasingly using AI to make or support decisions about people’s lives, Public Law Project finds.
Government predicts 12% growth in legal jobs over nine years
'Raising awareness of conveyancing careers' is among the actions in professional services jobs plan.
Back to the Supreme Court? New challenge in motor finance dispute
Lenders want to challenge Court of Appeal ruling that claims could be grouped together.
Solicitors urge prime minister to halt law firm 'stealth tax'
SME & Boutique Law Firm Alliance hints at legal action if the government moves to implement an interest on lawyers’ client accounts scheme.
In depth: Judicial salary structure review cannot report soon enough
The Ministry of Justice says it can only afford to give judges a pay rise that lags well behind inflation.
Legal blogger was 'fond of me', Milne tells court
Solicitor convicted of stalking court blogger cross-examined by defence barrister at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Fee-sharing disrupter collapses after unpaid tax bill
New-breed firm had attracted lawyers from top firms and allowed them to keep 70% of fees.
Litigation heavyweight Rahman Ravelli appoints administrators
Client monies are safe as clients are urged to find new solicitors to instruct.
Celebrity firm that led Harry hacking claim enters insolvency
Fleet Street practice founded by former Carter-Ruck partner closes its doors.
SRA to probe sting lawyer
Regulator will investigate BBC News report about a practitioner filmed allegedly advising on how to avoid fines for employing illegal workers.
Firms fined £2.6m for AML breaches - but the worst may be over
Regulator satisfied that ‘overwhelming majority’ of legal practices are committed to meeting obligations.
Small firm alliance chief hails compliance 'reprieve'
Solicitor who attempted to force confidence vote says she will keep pressuring the regulator to 'do better'.
Milne 'rolls people about like an alligator’, court told
Under cross-examination, blogger denies claim that he 'sat back' and allowed deluge of messages from solicitor.
Labour restores whip to outspoken critic of jury curbs
Karl Turner MP apologises for 'overly robust' approach during clashes over Courts and Tribunals Bill.
SRA kicks COLP/COFA separation plans into the long grass
Regulator will target higher-risk firms rather than impose blanket new rule on profession.
Consumers 'must be at the heart of class action reform'
Chancery Lane cites 'public interest in holding businesses and other entities to account'.
Offenders who refuse to attend sentencing could lose social visits
Judges will be able to take away prisoners' privileges or social visits.
£485,000 grant for climate contract initiative
Funding will pay for new benchmarking tool - and contract model clauses to reduce AI’s impact.
Higher rates band for solicitors comes a step closer
Consultation also begins on applying guideline rates to counsel fees.
Apprentice solicitor failed to tell firm about his arrest
Kent-based law firm worker explained his absence from work by saying he had been unwell.
English law's lead may not survive in digital world, warns master of rolls
The law chosen by dominant AI providers will have an advantage - and they are not in the UK.
Court gives Irwin Mitchell choice: repay client or be open to litigation
Judge offers firm the chance to cover 60% of client’s potential claim for compensation.
Tell clients about AI use, solicitors advised
Law Society practice note gives specific guidance on how lawyers can integrate AI in their practice in line with professional obligations.
Firm to pay ‘recommendation fee’ for serious injury referrals
Minster Law plans to build network among firms that want to pass on serious injury claims.
Moore the merrier
Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association injects humour into the agenda for its annual conference.
‘Deluded’ solicitor deluged court blogger with sexual messages, court hears
Day two of Andrew Milne’s appeal against stalking conviction hears evidence from alleged victim.
'Power event' disrupts remote hearings
HM Courts & Tribunals Service working with technology partners to restore service.
SRA intervenes to shut down Preston firm
Regulator says closure of Gowlings is necessary to protect the interests of clients.
Parliament's sub-judice rule should remain, say MPs
Review of resolution on mentions of active proceedings was ordered following Southport attacks.
MoJ suggests below-inflation pay rise for judges
Pay review body told a higher judicial pay award would come at the expense of other priorities in the justice system.
Mother faces £27,100 costs bill for false accusation
£260,000 sought by man wrongly accused of sexual abuse was 'disproportionate', judge rules.
Judge calls for change after two-year wait to resolve child care case
Proceedings to decide children's future care were subject to 12 case management hearings.
Legal geeks in the ascendant
Brett Dixon has become the 182nd president of the Law Society of England and Wales.
Solicitor's appeal against stalking conviction opens in Crown court
Judge and two magistrates begin hearing challenge to conviction and sentence for stalking legal blogger.
'The man they could not hang'
John ‘Babbacombe’ Lee became known in the 1880s as ‘The man they could not hang’.
Testing the waters
We reckon Karen Mee may be the first UK lawyer to have swum the channel solo.
Fighting over fees - Law Society Commercial Litigation Conference
Why clients fall out with solicitors over bills, reform of product liability law and an update on disclosure were among the topics this year.
Tribunal judge sanctioned for standing in local election
Guide to judicial conduct provides that judicial office holders should avoid activity which could compromise, or appear to compromise, their impartiality.
Burges Salmon to pilot 'sector-focused' training contracts
Firm says clients need lawyers who understand from day one the pressures they face.
'Squeezed middle' firms under pressure as top 10 pull away
Firms positioned between 11 and 50 are losing market share and not matching profit with revenue increases.
BHP fails to challenge interest payment order in Brazil dam case
Master of the rolls gives lead judgment in the latest twist to the Mariana dam litigation.
Firm sees off MoD allegation of 'inflating' claims costs
Court asked to rule on dispute over costs for thousands of hearing loss claims.
Ownership of bitcoin scam billions must be decided in China, court rules
Jurisdiction issue resolved in largest ever UK cryptocurrency civil recovery case.
Delays lead to sanctions for judges
Both judges who were subject to separate complaints explained workload and court pressures contributed to delays.
A walk in the park? Former colleagues plan start-up on kids' playdate
Working mums were both ambitious and driven - so they decided to work together.
Top firms' merger talks still on despite leader change
Long-serving lawyer will take over as chief executive at the end of this year.
Cross-border enforcement ‘at risk due to AI’, master of rolls warns
Sir Geoffrey Vos calls for international debate on good practice in AI use for judicial and arbitral decision-making.
In depth: Paying whistleblowers - sensible pragmatism or moral hazard?
A proposed SFO scheme to reward whistleblowers has sparked fears about fair trial safeguards. Could such an initiative also prove a ‘moral hazard’ that weakens corporate governance?
PE-backed consolidator slips into red as buying spree continues
Lawfront Holdings Ltd made a £2.1m loss in the 12 months to March 2026.
Women's justice charity to run landmark legal advice service
Centre for Women's Justice says service will address key problems faced by complainants during the criminal justice process.
Legal revenues dipped in August - but are up 12% on the year
Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities sector continues to out-perform the economy as a whole.
Gazette memory lane
'Dumbing down' exam fear, transfer test record, and the Association of Women Solicitors: a stroll down Gazette memory lane.
Axiom Ince CFO denies conspiracy to destroy documents
Trial of all five defendants charged following the 2023 collapse is listed for February 2027.
Call for single regulator in 'holistic' justice system
Access to civil justice should be through a ‘single, uncomplicated portal, readily identifiable to users’, report for Nuffield Foundation argues.
Obituary: Michael Orlik
Leading authority on footpaths and byways was a former local authority chief executive before moving into private practice.
Very few legal professionals know what they can legally copy and paste
Copyright Licensing Agency flags risks as AI becomes increasingly embedded into work practices.
Sports firm to go global with private equity cash
Fast-growing specialist counts Premier League clubs and top players among its clients.
Hackers stole probation data in LAA cyber attack
Government publishes further details of data stolen by hackers following system breach in December 2024.
Dixon takes up presidential mantle
’I will champion a criminal justice system that is fit for the future, backed by long-term investment, earlier intervention and responsible innovation.’
Motion of no confidence in SRA stalls at Law Society AGM
Incoming president says there are ‘better approaches’ amid widespread anger over COLP and COFA plans.
'Hostile' funding environment forces law centre's permanent closure
Hillingdon Law Centre provided free legal advice and representation on housing, immigration, employment and welfare rights for more than 40 years.
Battlelines drawn in Miller v West
Sky’s new drama, War, features a high-profile divorce and a cutthroat battle between law firms.