Category: legal profession

Justice advisory council’s future up in the air after reshuffle – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 25th, 2016 in barristers, criminal justice, Law Society, legal profession, news, prisons, solicitors by sally

‘Uncertainty surrounds the future of the advisory council set up by former lord chancellor Michael Gove to examine ways to eliminate waste and abuses in the criminal justice system.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Planning for the post-Brexit legal world – The Lawyer

Posted July 25th, 2016 in barristers, brexit, EC law, legal profession, news, referendums, solicitors by sally

‘On the morning of June 24th this year everything changed. Despite many predictions to the contrary, the people of Britain voted decisively to leave the European Union, and the political and economic landscape will never be the same again. Whether you voted leave or remain, whether you were aghast or euphoric, the only certainty was uncertainty. What will happen to the United Kingdom’s trade arrangements? What is the status of the City in a post-Brexit world? And after those big questions come a host of other, more knotty issues. What happens to passporting in financial services? What are the implications for employment law? What about data protection and intellectual property? How do you reshape your commercial contracts?’

Full story

The Lawyer, 25th July 2016

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Making lawyers publish “average” prices will energise consumers, says panel – Legal Futures

Posted July 25th, 2016 in barristers, competition, complaints, consumer protection, costs, disclosure, legal profession, legal services, news, solicitors, statistics by sally

‘The Legal Services Consumer Panel said last week that it was “not blind to the challenges of increased price transparency”, but insisted that making lawyers publish “average” prices could be the catalyst for making consumers ask more questions about cost.’

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Legal Futures, 25th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar mental health – Counsel

Posted July 13th, 2016 in alcoholism, barristers, legal profession, mental health, news, statistics by sally

‘Is the Bar doing enough to help protect barristers’ wellbeing? Grania Langdon-Down investigates the initiatives for change.’

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Counsel, July 2016

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Law Society lays into SRA over handbook rewrite and risk of creating “two-tier” profession – Legal Futures

Posted July 12th, 2016 in law firms, Law Society, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Law Society has blasted Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) plans to allow solicitors to practise from unregulated businesses, saying they risk creating a two-tier profession and eroding the standing of the profession.’

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Legal Futures, 12th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar chairman warns on post-Brexit practising rights – Legal Futures

Posted July 6th, 2016 in barristers, brexit, EC law, employment, immigration, jurisdiction, legal profession, legal services, news, VAT by Mark L

‘The ramifications of leaving the European Union are likely to be wide-ranging and could restrict the ability of barristers to practise outside England and Wales, the chairman of the Bar Council has warned.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 6th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Costs lawyers highlight “arbitrary” nature of budgeting – Litigation Futures

Posted June 30th, 2016 in budgets, costs, judges, legal profession, news by sally

‘The extent to which the costs management regime is working very much depends on which judge you are before, according to a survey of members of the Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL).’

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Litigation Futures, 28th June 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Lawyers rush to reassure clients after Brexit shock – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 27th, 2016 in brexit, EC law, law firms, legal profession, news, referendums, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The legal profession is today digesting the UK’s historic decision to vote to leave the European Union.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 24th June 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Public interest report calls for all legal advice to be commissioned by legal team – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 22nd, 2016 in auditors, budgets, consultations, contracting out, legal profession, legal services, licensing, local government, news, public interest, taxis by sally

‘Derby City Council should ensure that all legal advice is commissioned through its chief legal officer or her staff, and departments should not commission legal advice direct, auditors Grant Thornton have recommended in a public interest report.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st June 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Neuberger urges debate over ethical implications of artificial intelligence – Legal Futures

Posted June 20th, 2016 in advocacy, alternative business structures, artificial intelligence, computer programs, judges, judiciary, legal education, legal profession, legal services, news, quality assurance, Supreme Court by sally

‘The president of the Supreme Court last week called for a debate on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI) and for “greater prominence” for ethics in legal training.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 20th June 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Family law at a distance – Speech by Lord Sumption

Posted June 8th, 2016 in appeals, barristers, family courts, judges, jurisdiction, legal profession, news, Supreme Court by sally

Family law at a distance (PDF)

Speech by Lord Sumption

At a Glance Conference 2016, Royal College of Surgeons, 8th June 2016

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

Sumption: Legal specialisations are “essentially bogus” – Legal Futures

Posted June 8th, 2016 in appeals, barristers, family courts, judges, jurisdiction, legal profession, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘Legal specialisations are “essentially bogus”, Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption declared today as he urged practitioners to break out of their core areas and learn from other parts of the profession.’

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Legal Futures, 8th June 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Artificial Intelligence and the Law – BBC Law in Action

Posted June 8th, 2016 in artificial intelligence, computer programs, judiciary, legal profession, news by sally

‘Artificial Intelligence has made great advances in recent years, with computer scientists developing cars without drivers, planes without pilots and mobile phones which can double up as a personal assistant. The legal profession is proving to be rich territory in the AI field too.’

Listen

BBC Law in Action, June 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rule committee rejects standalone introduction of fixed fees for costs-only proceedings – Litigation Futures

Posted June 2nd, 2016 in civil procedure rules, costs, fees, insurance, legal profession, news by sally

‘The Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) has deflected a call by the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) to introduce fixed costs in costs-only proceedings, saying that the issue should form part of the wider reform agenda.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 2nd June 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.co.uk

Confidential Communication With Lawyers Is A Human Right, Even For Prisoners – RightsInfo

Posted May 23rd, 2016 in barristers, confidentiality, human rights, legal profession, news, prisons, privilege, proportionality, solicitors, Supreme Court by sally

‘Part of being in prison is that your rights and freedom are restricted. But prisoners do retain some rights – this was re-confirmed by the highest UK court 15 years ago today.’

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RightsInfo, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.rightsinfo.org

Lawyers given lesson in how to show their soft side as they face robot competition – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 19th, 2016 in computer programs, continuing professional development, law firms, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

‘Lawyers have been given a lesson in how to show their emotional side amid rising concerns about robot competition.’

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Daily Telegraph, 18th May 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Barristers unhappy with BSB warning on commercial pressures – Legal Futures

Posted May 18th, 2016 in barristers, codes of practice, complaints, fees, legal education, legal profession, news, standards by sally

‘Barristers have complained that the decision of their regulator to make public the risk of commercial pressures damaging the Bar could on its own have a negative impact on the profession’s reputation.’

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Legal Futures, 18th May 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BSB echoes Bar Council concerns on equality and access to justice – The Bar Council

Posted May 18th, 2016 in barristers, consumer protection, diversity, equality, fees, judiciary, legal aid, legal profession, legal representation, McKenzie friends, press releases, public interest, remuneration, women by sally

‘The Chairman of the Bar Council, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC has signalled agreement with the Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) concern for equality and diversity in the profession. As the independent regulator reported in its recently published Risk Outlook yesterday, the Bar Council also welcomed the focus on access to justice and on ensuring that consumers’ needs are properly met following the prolonged period of cuts to our system of justice.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 18th May 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

BSB’s Strategic Plan and Risk Outlook launch provokes lively debate – Bar Standards Board

Posted May 18th, 2016 in barristers, diversity, equality, legal profession, press releases, public interest by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) officially launched its Strategic Plan 2016-19 and Risk Outlook last month at a function in central London, to an audience of barristers, representative bodies of the Bar, legal consumer organisations and diversity groups.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 17th May 2016

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

The tech start-up planning to shake up the legal world – BBC News

Posted May 17th, 2016 in computer programs, law reports, legal profession, news by sally

‘A career in law and extremely long hours tend to go hand in hand. When you’re starting out it’s often particularly gruelling.’

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BBC News, 17th May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk