Accountant severely reprimanded over SRA report – Legal Futures

‘An accountant found to have “improperly” issued a report to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) about a law firm has been severely reprimanded by his regulator.’An accountant found to have “improperly” issued a report to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) about a law firm has been severely reprimanded by his regulator.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

APIL and FOIL issue guidance on Covid-19 co-operation – Litigation Futures

Posted April 2nd, 2020 in budgets, claims management, coronavirus, costs, electronic mail, law firms, news by sally

‘Personal injury firms should temporarily agree to accept service by email and freeze limitation periods, according to guidance issued to claimant and defendant lawyers today on the conduct of claims during the Covid-19 crisis.’

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Litigation Futures, 1st April 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Lawyers echo Sumption’s ‘police state’ warning – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Criticism by former Supreme Court justice Lord Sumption of apparent over-reach by police officers enforcing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions appears to have struck a chord in the legal profession.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 31st March 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Privately educated lawyers dominate corporate work – Legal Futures

‘The proportion of solicitors who attended state schools is creeping upwards, but those who went to fee-paying schools dominate corporate work, according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 31st March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Divisional Court to consider application for suspension of ‘no recourse to public funds’ policy – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Divisional Court will this week (3 April) consider whether to suspend the Home Office’s ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) policy.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

“Grossly negligent” partner suspended over missing $2.2m – Legal Futures

‘A “grossly negligent” salaried partner has been suspended for a year after $2.2m in escrow monies belonging to the other party in a deal was “dissipated in a series of unauthorised transactions”.’

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Legal Futures, 27th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Re: ACC & Ors [2020] EWCOP 9 – 3PB

‘The case concerned the conflicts of interests that may arise where property and affairs
deputies employed by a law firm instruct that firm to carry out instructions for P, or to
conduct litigation on P’s behalf.’

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3PB, 10th March 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

SRA will take “pragmatic” approach to breaches during pandemic – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has finally issued guidance to those it regulates on dealing with the coronavirus, stressing it will be “pragmatic” when taking action over rule breaches related to the pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 24th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA to make immigration regulation permanent – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is consulting on whether to extend indefinitely the suspension of immigration work from its removal of restrictions on solicitors providing non-regulated services.’

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Legal Futures, 18th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“Outrage” as only partners are allowed to work from home – Legal Futures

‘A union representing legal workers has expressed outrage at the “classist allocation of risk” that is seeing law firm partners work from home while other staff are forced into the office during the coronavirus pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 18th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Legal aid lawyers call for government support over Covid-19 – Legal Futures

Posted March 17th, 2020 in coronavirus, law firms, legal aid, news, rates by sally

‘Criminal defence solicitors have called for expedited legal aid payments and an extension of the business rate holiday to law firms with contracts to combat the impact of Covid-19.’

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Legal Futures, 17th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA: “Solicitors conceal disability for fear of harming careers” – Legal Futures

‘Many disabled solicitors have downplayed the extent of their disability because they do not trust law firms to meet their needs, research has revealed.’

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Legal Futures, 16th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court approval needed to start CoP litigation, says judge – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Deputies acting for incapacitated clients should seek permission from the court if they want to start litigation on their behalf, a judge has indicated.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th March 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law firm “under no duty” to disclose counsel’s advice to funder – Litigation Futures

Posted March 5th, 2020 in champerty, contracts, disclosure, law firms, legal representation, news by tracey

‘The High Court has struck out claims brought against a City law firm that a litigation funder said did not pass on the “pessimistic views” expressed by counsel about a case it was backing.’

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Litigation Futures, 5th March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Judge attacks S&G for “wholly unacceptable” failure – Legal Futures

A High Court judge has strongly criticised Slater & Gordon (S&G) for a “wholly unacceptable” failure to give him a crucial letter when applying for an urgent injunction in a police misconduct case.

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Legal Futures, 4th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

JusticeWatch: Legal aid’s failing safety net – Legal Voice

Posted February 25th, 2020 in attorney general, family courts, judicial review, law firms, legal aid, news by sally

‘Almost four out of 10 legal aid firms do not use the LASPO ‘safety net’ and make exceptional case funding applications, according to a new study by the Public Law Project – reported on the Justice Gap (here). More then three-quarters believed the scheme was not effective. The PLP survey by Professor Joe Tomlinson and Emma Marshall drew on responses between from 89 legal aid providers and other groups providing legal advice and was conducted in October/ November last year. The aim was to engage with providers working in four areas – immigration, family, housing and welfare benefits. Researchers identified 1,276 organisations with a legal aid contract working across these four areas.’

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Legal Voice, 21st February 2020

Source: legalvoice.org.uk

Points of dispute “must be precise and focused” – Litigation Futures

Posted February 21st, 2020 in appeals, costs, fees, law firms, news, solicitors by sally

‘Points of dispute (PoDs) in detailed assessments must help the parties and court “determine precisely what is in dispute and why”, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 20th February 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

SRA money laundering supervision to extend to tax advice – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) could face a cash shortage if the new anti-money laundering (AML) rules increase the number of firms it supervises, it has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 18th February 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘The victimisation was horrible’: why are so many disabled lawyers treated badly? – The Guardian

‘A new study says that more than half of disabled lawyers have experienced bullying or discrimination at work.’

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The Guardian, 11th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Edwards v Hugh James Ford Simey Solicitors [2019] UKSC 54 – Hardwicke Chambers

‘The Appellant was a firm of solicitors against whom the Respondent, on behalf of the late Mr Watkins’ estate, continued Mr Watkins’ claim in professional negligence following his death in 2014.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 10th February 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk