Legal aid firm loses JR over contract withdrawal – Legal Futures

Posted December 9th, 2019 in contracts, judicial review, law firms, legal aid, news by sally

‘There is no basis for a law firm’s challenge to a Legal Aid Agency (LAA) decision to reject its tender for a legal aid contract, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 9th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“Ageism” of virtual law firms not being confronted – Legal Futures

Posted December 6th, 2019 in age discrimination, law firms, news by sally

‘The “ageism” of new-breed ‘virtual’ law firms, with their focus on senior lawyers at the expense of younger ones, has not been confronted, an analysis has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 6th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm wrong to make solicitor pay for training course – Legal Futures

‘A law firm made an unlawful deduction of wages when it took £1,700 from the salary of a sacked solicitor turned office manager to cover the cost of a training course, an employment judge has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Supreme Court delivers Judgment in Thomas Arthur Watkins (Respondent) v Hugh James Ford Simey Solicitors (Appellant) [2019] UKSC 54 on appeal from [2018] EWCA Civ 1299 – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘The Supreme Court has delivered another significant Judgment arising from the handling of the VWF litigation against British Coal.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 20th November 2019

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

SRA rules open up working or competing with the Bar – Legal Futures

‘The new rules allowing solicitors to work from unregulated businesses open up several opportunities for solicitors – including working with or in competition with barristers, specialists have predicted.’

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Legal Futures, 27th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Case Comment: Edwards on behalf of the Estate of the late Thomas Arthur Watkins v Hugh James Ford Simey Solicitors [2019] UKSC 54 – UKSC Blog

‘In a unanimous judgment, the Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by a firm of solicitors in relation to a professional negligence claim concerning alleged under-settlement of a coal miner’s personal injury claim in 2003. The Supreme Court found that, since medical evidence of the nature subsequently obtained in the context of the professional negligence claim would not have been obtained in 2003, it should not be admissible when assessing the extent of the Claimant’s loss in the professional negligence claim. In reaching its decision, and unlike the Court of Appeal, it did not give its general views on the admissibility of evidence that would not have been available at the time of the original underlying claim.’

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UKSC Blog, 26th November 2019

Source: ukscblog.com

Reach for the STaRs – new solicitors’ rulebook goes live – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) new rulebook – Standards and Regulations (STaRs) – comes into force today, with experts highlighting several areas of significant change and opportunity for firms.’

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Legal Futures, 25th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm co-founder was not an employee, tribunal rules – Legal Futures

Posted November 22nd, 2019 in barristers, employment tribunals, law firms, news, unfair dismissal by tracey

‘One of the barrister founders of a pioneering legal aid firm in the North-East was not an employee or worker and so cannot bring unfair dismissal and other claims, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

City firms’ presenteeism culture in the dock – Legal Futures

Posted November 20th, 2019 in families, flexible working, law firms, news by sally

‘The case of a City lawyer told that leaving work slightly early to pick up her children was setting a bad example, shows how the profession needs to work on changing the culture of presenteeism, a flexible working specialist has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 20th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor tried to take unfair advantage of other lawyer’s error – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor discarded an undertaking he had given and tried to take advantage of a mistake made by the law firm on the other side of a conveyancing transaction, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 15th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Boxer’s banker fails in negligence claim against lawyers – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor, his law firm and the barrister they instructed have been granted summary judgment on a negligence claim brought against them by a banker fired for his work with boxer David Haye.’

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Legal Futures, 18th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firms’ “shocking” vulnerability to cyber criminals – Legal Futures

Posted November 13th, 2019 in computer crime, internet, law firms, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The vast majority of major law firms still have significant unaddressed cyber-risk, despite repeated urging by regulators, insurers and others to shore up their defences, according to new research.’

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Legal Futures, 12th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

District judge disallows court fee as disbursement – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 11th, 2019 in costs, fees, law firms, news by sally

‘A county court has disallowed a court fee after finding the claimant had failed to apply for remission. District Judge Jenkinson, sitting at Liverpool County Court, ruled in Stoney v Allianz that the £455 fee was not a disbursement reasonably incurred and was not recoverable.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th November 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Secretary “humiliated” by comments on 50th birthday loses claim against law firm – Legal Futures

‘A legal secretary who claimed she felt humiliated and insulted by a colleague commenting on her 50th birthday has lost her claim for harassment and age discrimination against the law firm.’

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Legal Futures, 8th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tribunal lifts practising controls from ABS accountant – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has lifted practising restrictions on a finance director who was sanctioned less than three years ago, over the objections of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 11th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Woman faked email reference to get law firm job – Legal Futures

‘A woman who set up a fake law firm email address so as to provide a bogus reference to a real firm looking to employ her has been banned from working in the profession.’

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Legal Futures, 4th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘The Death Clause’ – can basic charges be recovered under a Conditional Fee Agreement in the event of a client’s death? – 4 New Square

Posted October 29th, 2019 in asbestos, costs, fees, industrial injuries, law firms, news by sally

‘On Thursday 24 October 2019, Mr Justice Pushpinder Saini handed down his judgment in Higgins & Co Lawyers Ltd v Evans [2019] EWHC 2809 (QB), an appeal from a decision of Master McCloud sitting in the SCCO. Roger Mallalieu appeared for the successful Appellant. Simon Teasdale explains the facts, the court’s rulings and the implications of the decision.’

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4 New Square, 29th October 2019

Source: www.4newsquare.com

Law firm entitled to fees from CFA after claimant’s death – Litigation Futures

Posted October 29th, 2019 in asbestos, costs, fees, industrial injuries, law firms, news by tracey

‘A law firm which guaranteed clients there would be “no hidden, nasty surprises” could claim over £30,000 in fees from the estate of a deceased asbestosis claimant, the High Court has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 29th October 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Boss of bogus law firm disqualified as director – Legal Futures

‘The head of a bogus solicitors’ firm has received a 10-year director’s disqualification for running the business with a total lack of integrity.’

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Legal Futures, 24th October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Dozens of law firms enabling corruption, report finds – Legal Futures

Posted October 25th, 2019 in corruption, law firms, money laundering, news, professional conduct, statistics by sally

‘Dozens of UK law firms are – wittingly or unwittingly – providing corrupt individuals with services that enable them to “move, hide and defend their ill-gotten gains with impunity”, Transparency International (TI) has claimed.’

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Legal Futures, 25th October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk