Evaluation of flexible court hours stresses need to get lawyers onboard – Legal Futures

Posted August 3rd, 2021 in courts, flexible working, legal profession, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Flexible operating hours (FOH) can make it easier for people to access civil and family justice, but there needs to a lot more work to bring solicitors and barristers on board, research into two pilot schemes has said.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd August 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Defensive Advising Strategies 2: Know Your Client – Wilberforce Chambers

‘With a history in the world of financial services regulation, “know your customer/client” or “KYC” is a cornerstone of professional practice. What does it mean for legal professionals? In this instalment of my series on defensive advising strategies, I consider three aspects of KYC which are particularly relevant to lawyers, with an emphasis on the interface between solicitors and other professionals and the barristers they instruct. This perspective is based on my own experience as a practitioner and raises issues which crop up relatively frequently.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 22nd July 2021

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

Stronger rules on ongoing competence move step closer – Legal Futures

‘The current regulatory approach to lawyers’ ongoing competence needs to change, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has concluded, with assessments such as spot checks likely to be part of the reform.’

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Legal Futures, 20th July 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ep147: Vicarious Trauma in the Legal Profession – Law Pod UK

Posted July 20th, 2021 in legal profession, mental health, news, podcasts by sally

‘In Episode 147 Emma-Louise Fenelon speaks to Rachel Francis and Joanna Fleck about their book Vicarious Trauma in the Legal Profession.’

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Law Pod UK, 19th July 2021

Source: audioboom.com

Judicial diversity goes into reverse as barristers dominate – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 16th, 2021 in barristers, diversity, judiciary, legal profession, news, solicitors, statistics by tracey

‘Latest diversity statistics show once again a judiciary dominated by barristers – with the number of non-barristers in post lower than it was in 2014.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th July 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Public supports stronger ongoing competence checks for lawyers – Legal Futures

‘There is near unanimity among the public that lawyers should have to demonstrate more actively than now that they remain competent throughout their careers, the Legal Services Board has found.’

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Legal Futures, 9th July 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lawyers should have to take competence tests “every 10 years” – Legal Futures

‘Lawyers should have to take online tests every 10 years to prove that they remain competent in their specialist fields, Sarah Chambers, chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP), said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 30th June 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Susskind: “Harder than expected” to reduce legal work to lawyer-free process – Legal Futures

Posted June 28th, 2021 in law firms, legal profession, legal services, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The extent to which legal work can be reduced purely to administration and process has been overstated and in fact “lawyers are needed for all legal jobs”, Professor Richard Susskind has acknowledged.’

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Legal Futures, 28th June 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Susskind: “Trainees will learn like astronauts – with virtual reality” – Legal Futures

Posted June 14th, 2021 in computer programs, legal education, legal profession, news by tracey

‘Trainee lawyers in future may do their legal training by using immersive virtual reality software simulating the practice environment, much like astronauts being made ready for space, Professor Richard Susskind has predicted.’

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Legal Futures, 14th June 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Black lawyers call on profession to be “example of anti-racism” – Legal Futures

‘The group Black Women in Law has called on fellow lawyers to be an “example of anti-racism in action” by challenging racism whenever they see it and wherever they hear it.’

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Legal Futures, 9th June 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lord Chancellor outlines his plans to recover the justice system from COVID-19 – Ministry of Justice

‘The Lord Chancellor spoke at the Law Society to thank the hidden heroes who kept justice moving during the COVID-19 pandemic and outlined his plans for recovering the system, as well as propelling it towards a better future.’

Full speech

Ministry of Justice, 4th June 2021

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Narcissism and Family Law – a practitioner’s guide – Family Law Week

Posted June 7th, 2021 in barristers, divorce, families, legal profession, mental health, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Karin Walker, Founder of KGW Family Law, provides a guide to help family lawyers identify and manage narcissistic behaviour in any divorce or separation.’

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Family Law Week, 4th June 2021

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

LSB diversity report finds multiple failings by regulators – Legal Futures

‘Measures taken by frontline legal regulators to improve diversity and inclusion are insufficient and based on inadequate evidence, according to a report published by the Legal Services Board (LSB).’

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Legal Futures, 28th May 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar: ‘no end to justice emergency’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘In April 2020, the Bar Council predicted that 80% of chambers would collapse within a year without urgent financial aid. More than a year on, the pandemic persists – as do the vast majority of chambers. Were the early warnings overblown, or is the future of the bar still at risk?’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th May 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Family lawyers suffering from job insecurity and stress, survey finds – Legal Futures

‘Only half of family law professionals feel secure in their jobs right now, while a quarter are actively considering leaving the profession due to wellbeing concerns, major research has found.’

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Family Law, 21st May 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Anger over proposed ‘good faith’ rule for immigration lawyers – Legal Futures

Posted May 20th, 2021 in asylum, immigration, legal profession, legal representation, news by tracey

‘Government plans to impose a “good faith” requirement on immigration lawyers have been strongly attacked by the Law Society, Bar Council and Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA).’

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Legal Futures, 20th May 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Immigration and civil litigation hit hardest by Covid-19 – Legal Futures

‘Immigration and civil litigation were the two areas of legal practice hit hardest by the pandemic last year, with private client and family law “insulated” from the impact, new research has found.’

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Legal Futures, 5th May 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Women’s History Month: Justice Zainab Jawara Alami shares her experiences as a female judge – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted April 21st, 2021 in diversity, equality, judges, legal profession, news, women by tracey

‘Women’s History Month: Justice Zainab Jawara Alami shares her experiences as a female judge.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 20th April 2021

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Call for work to make consumer-facing legal documents more intelligible – Legal Futures

‘Lawyers need to make consumer-facing legal documents more engaging, and regulators and industry should consider measures to ensure they are intelligible, a report has recommended.’

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Legal Futures, 19th April 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Wellbeing a “global problem” with severe effects on some lawyers – Legal Futures

Posted April 8th, 2021 in coronavirus, health, legal profession, mental health, news by sally

‘Lawyer wellbeing is “a cause for global concern”, with levels of wellbeing below the average in every part of the globe, the first survey of its kind has found.’

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Legal Futures, 8th April 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk