Costs lawyers urge government to limit fixed costs to fast-track only – Litigation Futures

Posted December 12th, 2017 in budgets, costs, news, solicitors by sally

‘The government should curb Lord Justice Jackson’s recommendation to expand the use of fixed recoverable costs, limiting them only to the fast-track, according to a survey of costs lawyers.’

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Litigation Futures, 12th December 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Brexit: solicitors welcome ‘breathing space’ deal – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Lawyers have welcomed with relief the declaration on ‘legal certainty and clarity’ – including mutual recognition and enforcement of judgments – in the Brexit phase 1 agreement reached on Friday. However the Law Society cautioned that the ‘real complexity’ of the deal lies ahead.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 10th December 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Budana v The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust [2017] EWCA Civ 1980 – Hailsham Chambers

Posted December 8th, 2017 in assignment, costs, fees, news, solicitors by sally

‘In a much anticipated decision, the Court of Appeal has held that a pre-LASPO CFA can be transferred from one firm of solicitors to another – even post – LASPO – without losing the right to recover success fees from the defendant. The decision depended highly on policy considerations. It will be welcomed by solicitors who in a wide variety of circumstances have been party to such transfers.’

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Hailsham Chambers, 7th December 2017

Source: www.hailshamschambers.com

Solicitors “at risk of contempt finding” by signing statement of truth in bogus claims, judge warns – Litigation Futures

Posted December 8th, 2017 in contempt of court, fraud, news, oaths, solicitors by sally

‘The High Court has raised the prospect of solicitors who sign statements of truth on behalf of fraudulent clients being held in contempt of court.’

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Litigation Futures, 7th December 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Law Society to challenge government over fee cuts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 29th, 2017 in criminal justice, fees, Law Society, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Law Society is taking High Court action against the government’s latest criminal legal aid reforms over concerns that the ‘fragile’ sector will not be able to withstand further cuts.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 28th November 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Tribunal berates “careless and disrespectful approach” of SRA and solicitors it was prosecuting – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has criticised both the Solicitors Regulation Authority and two former directors of a Preston law firm for their “careless and disrespectful approach” in applying for approval of an ‘agreed outcome’ only a day before their hearing.’

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Legal Futures, 29th November 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Strike-off for legal aid fraud solicitor who also let untraceable junior staff member into firm – Legal Futures

Posted November 28th, 2017 in conspiracy, disciplinary procedures, fraud, legal aid, news, solicitors, striking out by sally

‘The head of a Bradford law firm has been struck off after being convicted of conspiracy to defraud the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) and also failing to supervise an unpaid junior member of staff who is suspected of producing fraudulent decree absolutes – and whose surname nobody at the firm can remember.’

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Legal Futures, 28th November 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SDT warns that revised dishonesty test could cause delays in trying solicitors – Legal Futures

Posted November 28th, 2017 in delay, disciplinary procedures, news, solicitors by sally

‘The recent Supreme Court ruling that changed the test of dishonesty could cause delays and more hearings at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), its chief executive has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 27th November 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law Society accreditation scheme advert ‘misled’ public – BBC News

Posted November 22nd, 2017 in advertising, complaints, conveyancing, law firms, Law Society, news, solicitors, standards by sally

‘The Law Society misled the public over the expertise of solicitors in a scheme set up to help property buyers and sellers in England and Wales, the advertising watchdog has ruled.’

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BBC News, 22nd November 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Solicitors under fire for failing to act in best interests of seriously injured clients – Litigation Futures

Posted November 16th, 2017 in case management, law firms, news, personal injuries, solicitors, victims by sally

‘Personal injury lawyers are often failing to act in the best interests of seriously injured clients, according to a law firm’s online poll. The survey by Nockolds Solicitors found that a large majority (81%) of rehabilitation case managers had experienced a situation where a claimant solicitor had “clearly not acted in the best interests of the client”.’

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Litigation Futures, 16th November 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Defendant granted relief even though its solicitor lied about breach – Litigation Futures

‘A circuit judge has narrowly decided to grant relief from sanctions in a case where the defendant solicitor lied that documents had been sent in time when they had not.’

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Litigation Futures, 13th November 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

City firm fined record £500k over solicitor’s links with investment schemes – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 9th, 2017 in disciplinary procedures, fines, law firms, news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal today confirmed its largest-ever fine levied against a law firm in England and Wales.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th November 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Regulators can be taken to employment tribunals, Supreme Court rules – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Solicitors claiming wrongful dismissal can potentially hold the Solicitors Regulation Authority to account in the employment tribunal following a Supreme Court judgment which clarifies rules on bringing complaints against qualifications bodies. The long-running case Michalak v General Medical Council and others centred on a discrimination complaint brought against the medical regulator by Dr Ewa Michalak. The SRA intervened in support of the GMC.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd November 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Interim statute bills must contain disbursements, court rules – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 3rd, 2017 in accounts, news, solicitors by sally

‘The High Court has served notice to solicitors to submit complete invoices after it backed a ruling that a statute bill served by a law firm should contain details of disbursements.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd November 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitor awarded £70,000 damages for “very serious libel” – Legal Futures

Posted November 2nd, 2017 in damages, defamation, incitement, news, perjury, solicitors by sally

‘A solicitor has been awarded £70,000 in libel damages after he was accused by a newspaper of incitement to commit perjury.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd November 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA: Men six times more likely to be partners than BAME women – Legal Futures

Posted November 1st, 2017 in diversity, minorities, news, partnerships, solicitors, statistics, women by sally

‘White male solicitors are almost six times more likely to become a partner than women from a black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) background, research commissioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has concluded.’

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Legal Futures, 31st October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court grants injunction to stop former in-house solicitor acting against ex-employer – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has granted an injunction restraining a former in-house solicitor from acting in proceedings against her former employer, saying that even if she was aware of the danger of disclosing confidential information, she might still subconsciously use it.’

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Legal Futures, 30th October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court demands further cuts in law firm’s £1.6m costs bill – Litigation Futures

Posted October 25th, 2017 in costs, fees, judges, law firms, news, solicitors by michael

‘Slade J said that while an estimate was not the same as a quote, Master Rowley had “exceeded the broad measure of his discretion” in considering a reasonable upper limit on profit costs to be twice as high as the second estimate.’

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Litigation Futures, 25th October 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Justice in jeopardy: government defies backlash to confirm ‘reckless’ legal aid cuts – Law Society Gazette

‘The government is to press ahead with reform of legal aid fees paid to solicitors in criminal cases – despite 97% of submissions to a consultation vehemently opposing the plans. Representative bodies have this afternoon condemned the decision as ‘reckless’, claiming it places justice in jeopardy.’

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Law Society Gazette, 24th October 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Personal injury lawyer struck off for telling staff to fake signatures – Litigation Futures

Posted October 24th, 2017 in costs, disciplinary procedures, disqualification, forgery, news, solicitors by sally

‘A personal injury lawyer who persuaded other employees to fake client signatures and lied about it in court has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).’

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Litigation Futures, 24th October 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com