Rebuff for JAC as judge seeks information on recruitment
First-tier tribunal prohibits information commissioner and JAC submissions in appeal over disclosure.
Minority Anexo investors accuse buyers of conspiracy
Shareholders say they are in ‘information vacuum’ amid delay to reporting full-year results at listed legal business.
Family firm overturns ombudsman’s £15,700 award
High Court judge reduces the costs awarded to the firm to ‘reflect the court’s disapproval’ of firm’s failure to file relevant evidence at the appropriate time.
Dana Denis-Smith to be Society president in 2027
Founder of First 100 Years project elected deputy vice president of the Law Society of England and Wales.
Hermer: No pick and mix on international law
Attorney general blasts both 'pseudo realists' and 'romantic idealists' in speech citing the rise of the Nazis.
Pioneer firm's paralegals devastated by apprenticeship funding cut
Personal injury practice says nearly all of its legal apprentices would have missed out on crucial funding under the new arrangements.
Barristers to be forced to come clean on client complaints
Information could be collected direct from chambers to improve oversight of complaints-handling, watchdog says.
Second Daily Mail 'sting' solicitor cleared of misconduct
Immigration adviser conducted an initial exploratory meeting and did not advise on fabricating evidence for an asylum claim, tribunal finds.
Memory lane
An embarrassing question to ask during divorce proceedings and the Society’s centenary celebrations: a stroll down Gazette memory lane.
Axiom Ince collapse has ‘negatively affected trust in solicitors’, says lord chancellor
High-profile implosion dented public confidence in solicitors and brought ethics into the spotlight, says Shabana Mahmood.
SRA chief executive: 'Essential that we learn'
Statement contrasts with combative response to independent review into the collapse of Axiom Ince.
What the SRA must do – the key prescriptions
Governance, risk, authorisation, client money, sales, mergers and acquisitions, and pre-intervention.
York firm shuns buyout option to become employee-owned
Long-serving legal executive brought onto board as staff representative.
SRA sanctioned over Axiom Ince failures
LSB issues 'binding directions' designed to ensure regulator identifies and responds to risks more effectively.
Trix of the trade
Law commission says its recommendations for electronic wills would ensure the law is fit for purpose for the modern age; but not everything is being updated.
Top Indian firm joins CMS network
INDUSLAW remains an independent firm while operating under the international firm's brand.
Solicitors could still face sanction for delays caused by other parties, LeO warns
When a client complains, the ombudsman will want to see evidence firms tried to progress matters.
Litigant handed restraint order after bringing meritless claims against solicitors
Swedish businessman ‘bombarded the court with letters and emails’ and 'refused to take "no" for an answer'.
Judge condemns late disclosure in life-support child case
Forcing counsel to ask for disclosure was 'professionally beyond discourteous'.
'Grave concerns' as Istanbul bar chief faces criminal trial
European lawyers offer 'solidarity and support' over charges for 'terrorist propaganda' and 'public dissemination of misleading information'.
Public to see data on 'avoidable' conveyancing errors
Current data published by HM Land Registry does not distinguish between avoidable and unavoidable errors.
Wrong numbers
Misnumbering of court bundles is ‘only too common’, an unimpressed Court of Appeal judge tells litigants.
BSB ditches new diversity duty for barristers
Bar Council led backlash against new measure for advancing equality.
'Lawfare': Pogust Goodhead attacks Brazil's 'abusive clauses' action
Brazilian authorities seek £6 million compensation from UK firm over Mariana dam group claim.
DfE scales back funding cut for solicitor-apprentices
Solicitor-apprentices will be funded until they turn 22 and support will continue for existing apprentices over 21.
Views sought on permanent closure of Lancaster Crown Court
Crown court within a 12th century castle has not been used since 2019 and costs £211,000 a year to maintain.
Judge throws out 'blunderbuss' Trump order against law firm
Washington court rules that 'unconstitutional' act of retaliation 'casts a chill over whole legal profession'.
Ex-boss of collapsed firm wins unfair dismissal claim
Managing partner left London office of US business before it closed last September.
In depth: Poor communication driving complaints, private client conference hears
Some solicitors are providing written information too late, or exceeding cost estimates without warning clients.
Hill treats blues
Everton Football Club has unveiled an exclusive sponsor for its new Bramley Moor Dock home, but will it stick?
Solicitor relied on client’s fake authorities, High Court hears
President of the King’s Bench Division and Mr Justice Johnson reserve judgment in two cases involving fake citations.
Mahmood trims judges' pay rise
Lord chancellor rejects 4.75% pay recommendation and says her decision strikes right balance between official advice and what her department can afford.
Barrister did not appreciate seriousness of fake citations, High Court hears
Hearing before the King's Bench president is dealing with two separate cases - one involving a barrister and a law centre and the other a solicitor.
LAA cyber attack: firms risk doing unpaid work
Solicitors fear legal aid might not be granted when they try to get applications backdated as coalition of law societies demands LAA provide better support.
In depth: Mastercard - how will the £200m be distributed?
The £200m settlement in the high-profile Mastercard claim could potentially benefit 44 million people. Yet payouts could go as low as £2.50, raising difficult questions about the outlook for class actions.
Judge's scepticism of mother not the fault of negligent solicitors
Findings of inconsistencies in a mother’s evidence could not be laid at the door of her former solicitors, Court of Appeal finds.
CCRC chief must go, say MPs
Justice committee report says CCRC leadership ‘has shown a remarkable inability to learn from its own mistakes’.
Veteran solicitor struck off for concealing bankruptcy
Tribunal says outcome could have been different if 'capable, diligent and competent' solicitor had made frank disclosures.
Scotland to stop unqualified advisers from calling themselves 'lawyers'
Law Society to continue regulating solicitors after Holyrood snubs main recommendation of its own report.
Gauke unveils sentencing reforms to end prison population crisis
Short custodial sentences would be handed down only in exceptional circumstances and well-behaved prisoners released early.
No legal rule rendering voluntarily incurred losses irrecoverable, Supreme Court finds
Engineering consultancy firm URS Corporation argued it should not be liable for repairs which a building firm did not need to carry out.
Birmingham solicitor charged with money laundering
Offences relate to an 11-month period from 2020 to 2021.
Judge who sits on family cases failed to protect children from abusive partner
Deputy district judge cannot be named, despite the press arguing that anonymity could reduce trust in the justice system.
Wetherspoons not vicariously liable for door staff actions, High Court rules
Door staff employed by Risk Solutions were independent contractors, not employees, Mr Justice Sweeting finds.
Simmons & Simmons sees off cover-up allegations in decade-long dispute
Litigant in person accused the firm of fraud after his abortive attempt to purchase a property in 2015.
LAA demands £35,000 for case that ended 13 years ago
Legal advice charity says no records have been presented to show that it owes full amount.
Solicitor rebuked for no-complaint settlement offers
Regulator says actions of 25-year in-house veteran showed ‘concerning lack of judgement’.
Camping is a form of open-air recreation, Supreme Court rules
Judges say it would be ‘absurd’ if walkers on Dartmoor commons could not stop to enjoy a picnic or camp.
Litigant barred from office for intimidating staff
Litigant in person was intimidating and oppressive to staff who were scared to use the office reception, judge finds.
Family justice delays double legal aid spend
Spending watchdog criticises lack of government data to understand why cases are taking so long.
‘Fewer dollars’ for UK economy as top lit funder spurns English law
Government's failure to act on PACCAR Supreme Court ruling ‘regrettable’, says Burford chief.
Defence solicitor praised by Court of Appeal in Southport Tweet case
Liam Muir was accused of failing to advise Lucy Connolly, who called for hotels to be set on fire.
Fast-expanding Knights forecasts higher profits as margins improve
Stockmarket-listed group has stepped up its acquisition strategy with a number of eye-catching buys.
Mastercard: Merricks demands apology from funder as £200m settlement approved
Class members will receive £45 per head if 2.5 million people come forward, £46m ringfenced for funder Innsworth.
South coast firm joins Lawfront legal stable in biggest deal yet
Former Allen & Overy leaders set up PE advisory service as sector reaches for investment.
Lawyers face payment delays following LAA cyber attack
Practitioners having to email and phone about applications while Ministry of Justice works on back-up service to replace digital portal.
Slater and Gordon beats off costs challenge from 224 ex-clients
Senior Costs Judge Rowley says clients understood terms and were not put under pressure to sign.
Trial by TV: You be the Judge
Channel 5 programme presented by Anne Robinson is designed to show the flaws of our sentencing system.
England's oldest town's biggest law firms are future-proofing in different ways
Three of Colchester’s biggest practices had existential decisions to make about their trading strategy. They chose different paths in terms of identity, ownership and funding.
Russian litigants flood back to London courts
Some 93 nationalities were represented in commercial courts in 2024-25, a new record, with United Arab Emirates also climbing the charts.
Married pair held in contempt over doctored evidence
Dishonest claimant had said her solicitors let her down over costs information.
'Significant' amount of personal data accessed in LAA cyber attack
Dates of birth, national ID numbers, criminal history and financial data may be in the hands of hackers.
SDT fines firm £120k for 15-year breaches of AML regulations
Review of eight files found that none had compliant client and risk matter assessments.
New Everton home to be named the Hill Dickinson Stadium
Partnership described as one of the biggest naming rights deals in Europe.
In depth: ECHR withdrawal 'no longer just the headbanger's view'
Thinktank Policy Exchange is seeking to propel withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights into mainstream political debate.
District judge’s final order delay leads to sanction
DJ accepted there had been a delay in signing off family order due to work pressures.
First AI law firm? Er, not quite
The regulator has authorised a start-up firm to provide legal advice generated by AI. But did the excitement go a little too far?
UK-EU summit: Law Society calls for talks on mutual recognition
'Dedicated dialogue' to take place on mutual recognition of professional qualifications.
MPs demand urgent plan for cutting clin neg costs
Public Accounts Committee critical of ‘astronomical’ sums paid to claimant lawyers.
Edith Piaf back at the Cube
Your regulator continues to accept criticism with all the humility of a toddler denying they drew on the walls while holding a crayon.
Cautious welcome for Law Commission's wills reform blueprint
Specialists say proposed reforms will clarify the law - but could also lead to court battles.
Truth stranger than Whitehall fiction
Is government policy being modelled on classic Whitehall sitcom Yes Minister?
In depth: Law firm and US bar strike blows against Trump - is the tide turning?
Four leading US law firms chose to fight Trump’s executive orders. The first full judgment has come down in the sector’s favour – leaving those firms which capitulated to the president in a bind.
Allow electronic wills, Law Commission tells government
Draft bill would also abolish the rule that marriage revokes a will.
Court of Appeal shows no mercy over 16-month delay
Defendant failed to challenge £38 million default judgment until action began against a second party.
Ex-solicitor ordered to stop promoting tax avoidance schemes
HM Revenue & Customs issues two stop notices to Paul Baxendale-Walker, the first time that such notices have been issued to an individual.
Conveyancers still in the dark on material information
Law Society seeking answers for conveyancers after decision to withdraw 2023 guidance on material information for estate and letting agents.
Ex-solicitor loses appeal after Google search spewed out fake cases
Judge says court needs to take ‘decisive action’ to protect integrity of its processes from fake citations.
Fraudster secured jobs at law firms with bogus degree
Aditya Rai, who posed as a law graduate to secure roles as a paralegal and legal assistant, convicted of fraud.
SRA imposes record £4m fine on former law firm boss
Regulator says dishonesty at defunct consolidator firm impacted thousands of people.
Breakthrough at last as India partially liberalises legal services
Foreign law firms will be permitted to practise - but not in Indian law, Bar Council of India announces.
International firm boosts NQ salary to £140,000
Base salaries are ‘only one component of lawyer remuneration’, Hogan Lovells says.
SEND lawyer attacks councils over mediation approach
Solicitor supports mediation for funding appeals but accuses local authorities of acting unlawfully.
High Court throws out antisemitic tweet solicitor’s appeal
SDT’s conclusions were ‘plainly open to it’ and its strike-off sanction was ‘adequately’ explained, judge rules.
Judicial salary review to explore 'flexible pay'
Lord chancellor wants Senior Salaries Review Body to come up with recommendations that will make the bench more attractive.
Solicitor who ran mesh claims facing multiple charges
Darren Hanison alleged to have misled clients on costs and failed to ensure they had ATE insurance.
Cafcass demands apology for psychologist's 'offensive' comments at Proudman book launch
Barrister accuses child safeguarding body of seeking to muzzle a woman 'speaking out for abuse survivors'.
Magistrate reprimanded for sharing views on homosexuality
Office holder regretted any offence caused by his comments and gave ‘assurance that he would continue to make decisions fairly and without bias’.
UK among first signatories of lawyer protection measure
Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer requires governments to ensure lawyers are not attacked because of their clients.
Going down the hub: MoJ to shut London HQ
102 Petty France, home to Ministry of Justice, Crown Prosecution Service, Government Legal Department and Law Commission, is to close.