Pandemic experience has given lawyers more confidence in tech – Legal Futures

‘The experience of the pandemic has given lawyers greater confidence in innovation and technology, leading to a “step change” in their use over the past three years, major new research has found.’

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Legal Futures, 7th June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Workplace bullying in law firms – a new frontier? – Kingsley Napley

‘Richard Fox, Jessica Clay and Lucinda Soon discuss what constitutes workplace bullying in light of the recent high-profile case against former justice secretary Dominic Raab.’

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Kingsley Napley, 19th May 2023

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

SRA to publish salaries of fined solicitors – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is to publish the salaries of the solicitors it fines and impose ‘default salaries’ on those who refuse to reveal them.’

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Legal Futures, 1st June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SDT refused to disclose witness statements in sexual misconduct case – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) refused to disclose the witness statements of three young women who gave evidence of sexual misconduct by City lawyer Oliver Bretherton to journalists, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 30th May 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bogus solicitor jailed for posing as lawyer in court case – BBC News

‘A “comprehensively dishonest” man who posed as a solicitor in court despite having no legal qualifications has been jailed for 10 months.’

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BBC News, 25th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law firms and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace – Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog

‘Sexual harassment in the workplace has attracted growing concern globally over the past five years. The House of Commons Women and Equalities Select Committee (WESC) inquiry in July 2018 triggered a parliamentary debate around the need for stricter duties for employers to prevent unwanted sexual behaviour at work. In parallel, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has prioritised tackling sexual misconduct in law firms and recent changes to its Codes of Conduct emphasise the expectation on firms to foster a culture of zero tolerance to counter-inclusive behaviours, including sexual misconduct.’

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Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog, 23rd May 2023

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

No continuing loss from law firm’s breach of contract, tribunal rules – Legal Futures

‘A trainee solicitor who never took up his job after the terms of employment were changed four days before he began work has failed in his bid for damages greater than his contractual notice period.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd May 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK crime agency to pursue up to 100 lawyers accused of helping traffickers – The Guardian

‘The National Crime Agency is preparing to pursue up to 100 lawyers it believes are helping traffickers abuse modern slavery laws to secure asylum for people entering the UK.’

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The Guardian, 18th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Society warns on Finance Bill changes – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Law Society today reminded private client solicitors that the Finance Bill is set to restrict charitable tax reliefs to UK charities only, with donations located in the EU and the European Economic Arena (EEA) no longer qualifying for UK charitable tax reliefs from April 2024. This will impact individuals who claim income tax or capital gains tax relief on donations to non-UK charities and those who expect inheritance tax exemption on lifetime gifts or on legacies to such organisations.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th May 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Opportunities opening up for “long neglected” returners to the law – Legal Futures

Posted May 5th, 2023 in employment, flexible working, law firms, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The legal profession’s growing appetite for hiring career returners is opening up a wealth of opportunities for a talented group of lawyers who have “long been neglected”.’

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Legal Futures, 5th May 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law Society: Climate change a “valid” reason to reject clients – Legal Futures

‘Climate-related issues may be “valid considerations” for law firms in deciding whether to act for potential clients, the Law Society has said.’

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Legal Futures, 19th April 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Wasted Costs in the Commercial Court – Hailsham Chambers

‘In King v Stiefel (Wasted Costs) [2023] EWHC 453 (Comm), the Commercial Court emphatically rejected applications for wasted costs against a barrister and his instructing solicitors, in relation to a claim which had been struck out. The case is a good example of how difficult it is to obtain a wasted costs order against lawyers. William Flenley KC acted for the successful solicitors.’

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Hailsham Chambers, 8th March 2023

Source: www.hailshamchambers.com

TRX v Southampton Football Club [2022] EWHC 3992 (KB): Retainers, lawful CFAs and Rule 47.20 – Costs Litigation Blog

Posted April 12th, 2023 in appeals, chambers articles, costs, news, sexual offences, solicitors, sport by sally

‘This blog by Dan Tobin examines the Court of Appeal decision in TRX v Southampton Football Club [2022] EWHC 3392 (KB).’

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Costs Litigation Blog, 10th March 2023

Source: costsandlitigationfunding.com

New ‘failure to prevent’ offence tabled – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A new offence of failure to prevent fraud will be created by an amendment to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill tabled by the government today. Under the measure, an organisation where a fraud has been committed must be able to demonstrate that it had ‘reasonable measures in place to deter the offending’ or be liable to an unlimited fine.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th April 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Referral Fees and Illegality: Litkraft Ltd v Cottrell – Ropewalk Chambers

Posted April 11th, 2023 in chambers articles, contracts, fees, illegality, news, solicitors by sally

‘Litkraft Ltd v (1) Cottrell (2) Williams (3) Goldsmith [2023] EWHC 465 (Comm) has touched upon, but not decided, whether certain fee sharing arrangements could amount to a prohibited referral fee under section 56 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (“LASPO”).’

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Ropewalk Chambers, 14th March 2023

Source: ropewalk.co.uk

Why are there so many cases against lawyers for contempt of court? – 4 New Square

Posted March 31st, 2023 in chambers articles, contempt of court, news, solicitors by sally

‘There has been a spate of cases in the past couple of years where contempt of court proceedings have been brought against lawyers. Prompted by the recent decision by Leech J to imprison struck off solicitor Soophia Khan for a further period of 12 months for failing to deliver up her firm’s files to SRA intervention agents, Helen Evans KC examines what is going on. When can contempt proceedings be brought against lawyers, and are they becoming more frequent?’

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4 New Square, 20th March 2023

Source: www.4newsquare.com

Law Society calls in leading figures to support “21st century justice” project – Legal Futures

Posted March 14th, 2023 in civil justice, costs, electronic filing, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Law Society has pulled together figures from law firms, technology and business – as well as the former Senior President of Tribunals – to support a project looking at how the justice system can be made “fit for the future”.’

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Legal Futures, 14th March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor apprenticeships launched for part-qualified legal professionals – Legal Futures

Posted March 7th, 2023 in legal education, legal profession, news, paralegals, solicitors by sally

‘The first solicitor apprenticeship scheme has been launched which is specifically designed for paralegals part-way through qualifications with other legal bodies, such as CILEX and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).’

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Legal Futures, 7th March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA wins approval to destroy 765,000 files from shut-down firms – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has given the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) permission to destroy immediately around 765,000 files it is storing after intervening in law firms in recent years.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ministers face legal battle with criminal solicitors over legal aid – The Guardian

Posted March 2nd, 2023 in criminal justice, legal aid, news, remuneration, solicitors by tracey

‘Ministers could face a legal battle over their refusal to increase legal aid rates for criminal defence solicitors in England and Wales by the minimum recommended in an independent review. The Law Society, the professional body for solicitors, claims there has been an “unlawful and irrational” failure to implement the 15% minimum increase recommended by Christopher Bellamy as necessary to sustain the future of the criminal justice system.’

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The Guardian, 1st March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com