Legal aid lawyers call for government support over Covid-19 – Legal Futures

Posted March 17th, 2020 in coronavirus, law firms, legal aid, news, rates by sally

‘Criminal defence solicitors have called for expedited legal aid payments and an extension of the business rate holiday to law firms with contracts to combat the impact of Covid-19.’

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Legal Futures, 17th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA: “Solicitors conceal disability for fear of harming careers” – Legal Futures

‘Many disabled solicitors have downplayed the extent of their disability because they do not trust law firms to meet their needs, research has revealed.’

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Legal Futures, 16th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court approval needed to start CoP litigation, says judge – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Deputies acting for incapacitated clients should seek permission from the court if they want to start litigation on their behalf, a judge has indicated.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th March 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law firm “under no duty” to disclose counsel’s advice to funder – Litigation Futures

Posted March 5th, 2020 in champerty, contracts, disclosure, law firms, legal representation, news by tracey

‘The High Court has struck out claims brought against a City law firm that a litigation funder said did not pass on the “pessimistic views” expressed by counsel about a case it was backing.’

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Litigation Futures, 5th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Judge attacks S&G for “wholly unacceptable” failure – Legal Futures

A High Court judge has strongly criticised Slater & Gordon (S&G) for a “wholly unacceptable” failure to give him a crucial letter when applying for an urgent injunction in a police misconduct case.

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Legal Futures, 4th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

JusticeWatch: Legal aid’s failing safety net – Legal Voice

Posted February 25th, 2020 in attorney general, family courts, judicial review, law firms, legal aid, news by sally

‘Almost four out of 10 legal aid firms do not use the LASPO ‘safety net’ and make exceptional case funding applications, according to a new study by the Public Law Project – reported on the Justice Gap (here). More then three-quarters believed the scheme was not effective. The PLP survey by Professor Joe Tomlinson and Emma Marshall drew on responses between from 89 legal aid providers and other groups providing legal advice and was conducted in October/ November last year. The aim was to engage with providers working in four areas – immigration, family, housing and welfare benefits. Researchers identified 1,276 organisations with a legal aid contract working across these four areas.’

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Legal Voice, 21st February 2020

Source: legalvoice.org.uk

Points of dispute “must be precise and focused” – Litigation Futures

Posted February 21st, 2020 in appeals, costs, fees, law firms, news, solicitors by sally

‘Points of dispute (PoDs) in detailed assessments must help the parties and court “determine precisely what is in dispute and why”, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 20th February 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

SRA money laundering supervision to extend to tax advice – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) could face a cash shortage if the new anti-money laundering (AML) rules increase the number of firms it supervises, it has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 18th February 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘The victimisation was horrible’: why are so many disabled lawyers treated badly? – The Guardian

‘A new study says that more than half of disabled lawyers have experienced bullying or discrimination at work.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Edwards v Hugh James Ford Simey Solicitors [2019] UKSC 54 – Hardwicke Chambers

‘The Appellant was a firm of solicitors against whom the Respondent, on behalf of the late Mr Watkins’ estate, continued Mr Watkins’ claim in professional negligence following his death in 2014.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 10th February 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Firm sacked paralegal days after emergency bowel surgery – Law Society’s Gazette

‘ Birmingham firm who dismissed a worker within days of him leaving hospital post-surgery have been found in breach of employment law by a tribunal.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 6th February 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law firm discriminated against disabled paralegal – Legal Futures

Posted February 6th, 2020 in disability discrimination, law firms, news, paralegals by sally

‘A law firm discriminated against a seriously ill paralegal by dismissing him after only three months while he was on sick leave, an employment tribunal has ruled’

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Legal Futures, 6th February 202

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lawyers could be forced to sign up to comparison websites – Legal Futures

‘Law firms, chambers and other legal services providers could be forced to sign up to comparison websites so that clients can let others know about the quality of service they received.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd February 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor rejected for job was victim of age discrimination – Legal Futures

‘An experienced property solicitor was rejected for a job at a law firm despite being the only person interviewed because of age discrimination, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 29th January 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Disabled lawyers “face daily discrimination” – Legal Futures

‘Disabled lawyers face both overt and “unconscious” discrimination on a daily basis, such as “rituals, practices and attitudes that exclude or undermine them”, according to research published today.’

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Legal Futures, 24th February 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Divorcee sues top law firm after taking out ‘crippling’ loan to pay for legal fight with husband – Daily Telegraph

‘A businesswoman who wrongly believed she would win a substantial divorce settlement from her wealthy husband is suing a top law firm after taking out a crippling loan to pay their fees.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th January 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Female lawyers should not be forced to wear heels, says Baroness Hale – The Independent

‘The UK’s most senior judge has condemned law firms that demand female lawyers wear high heels, as she lamented the lack of “progress” on sex discrimination in the legal profession.’

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The Independent, 12th January 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tribunal overturns unfair dismissal ruling against partner – Legal Futures

‘An employment tribunal has ruled that it was wrong to uphold an unfair dismissal claim against a partner in a law firm closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 8th January 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Profession needs “healthier” approach to alcohol – Legal Futures

Posted January 7th, 2020 in alcohol abuse, health, law firms, news, solicitors by sally

‘The profession needs to create a healthier culture around alcohol, including never asking people at events why they are not drinking, the Law Society’s Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) has urged.’

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Legal Futures, 6th January 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Legal sector to shed thousands of jobs in coming years – Legal Futures

Posted December 10th, 2019 in employment, law firms, legal services, news by sally

‘The legal services sector is to shed 13,000 jobs in the decade to 2027 – with a further 22,000 at risk if technology brings radical change to the workforce, research for the Law Society has predicted.’

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Legal Futures, 10th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk