Category: law firms

‘Innovation in the delivery of legal services’ report – LegalVoice

Posted January 27th, 2015 in law firms, legal services, news, reports, speeches by sally

‘Legal aid firms and advice agencies are being encouraged to embrace new technologies to survive in the post-LASPO world. A new report by LV director David Gilmore and Matthew Howgate, following on from the 2014 Innovation in the delivery of legal services conference, provides examples of what firms and not-for-profit agencies are doing to survive in the wake of the legal aid cuts. The authors conclude that it is ‘impossible to see the LASPO cuts as anything but an absolute disaster’. However, they argue that across the advice sector there are ‘strong ideas’ emerging.’

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LegalVoice, 26th January 2015

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

“Tesco Law” in theory will be “Asda Law” in reality – The Future of Law

Posted January 20th, 2015 in alternative business structures, law firms, news by sally

‘In the run up to the Legal Services Act and its “aftermath” the name that came to symbolise the supposed rise of consumer brands entering the legal market was Tesco.’

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The Future of Law, 19th January 2015

Source: www.blogs.lexisnexis.co.uk

On-call solicitor plan adopted with ‘cavalier disregard for fairness’ – The Guardian

Posted January 20th, 2015 in criminal justice, law firms, legal representation, news, solicitors by sally

‘A theoretical business model adopted by the justice secretary to employ on-call solicitors was selected with “cavalier disregard” for fairness and real-world experience, the high court has heard.’

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The Guardian, 19th January 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Pro bono – what lies ahead in 2015? – The Future of Law

Posted January 8th, 2015 in law centres, law firms, legal aid, news, pro bono work by sally

‘2015 looks set to be a critical year for the pro bono movement and its uneasy relationship with legal aid. The well-worn pro bono mantra – that pro bono is “an adjunct to and not a replacement for legal aid” – has been challenged in recent years. The Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO 2012) effectively scrapped public funding for much of social welfare law advice in April 2013 and the legal profession is finally beginning to rethink the formula. Legal aid lawyers are rightly sceptical about ministers trying to co-opt pro bono – but LASPO 2012 is a game-changer.’

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The Future of Law, 7th January 2015

Source: http://blogs.lexisnexis.co.uk

High Court bats away challenge to privilege of ‘without prejudice’ costs letters – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 6th, 2015 in costs, law firms, news, privilege by sally

‘Without prejudice’ correspondence between law firms on the costs of a complex dispute between mosquito net manufacturers was protected by privilege and not admissible in court, the High Court has ruled in a case with combined costs of £4.6m.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 6th January 2015

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Al Sweady inquiry Q&A: What happened on 14 May 2004? – The Independent

Posted December 18th, 2014 in aggravated vehicle taking, armed forces, inquiries, Iraq, law firms, murder, news by sally

‘Q: What happened on 14 May 2004?

A: The summer of 2004 saw a sharp spike in attacks on Coalition forces by the Mahdi Army militia in southern Iraq. British troops were ambushed at two locations either side of the “Danny Boy” vehicle checkpoint, near Al Amarah. Witnesses said the fighting was particularly fierce and had involved the use of bayonets by British troops for the first time since the Falklands War.’

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The Independent, 17th December 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Al-Sweady Inquiry: Legal battles after fighting ends – BBC News

Posted December 18th, 2014 in armed forces, inquiries, Iraq, law firms, murder, news, torture by sally

‘There’s anger, as much as relief and a sense of vindication, inside the Ministry of Defence and the Army at the end of this long public inquiry into allegations of murder and abuse by British soldiers in Iraq in 2004.’

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BBC News, 17th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Solicitors From Hell founder wins surprise High Court victory – Legal Futures

Posted December 15th, 2014 in harassment, injunctions, law firms, news, solicitors by tracey

‘He has been sued 18 times in relation to the website he founded, and lost each time, but now Rick Kordowski, the man behind SolicitorsFromHell.co.uk, has recorded an unexpected High Court win.’

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Legal Futures, 15th December 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Litigation Trends Survey – Post Mitchell – New Law Journal

Posted December 11th, 2014 in costs, fees, law firms, news by sally

‘In the third NLJ / LSLA litigation trends survey, James Baxter reports on how firms and practitioners are seeking clarity post-Mitchell.’

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New Law Journal, 11th December 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Litigation funding options: The importance of a comprehensive checklist – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted November 27th, 2014 in appeals, compensation, costs, law firms, legal ombudsman, news by sally

‘The judgment of Mr Justice Hickinbottom in Clarke v McDaniel & Co (15 October 2014, unreported) provided a salutary reminder to litigation solicitors of the need to ensure that in their initial discussion with a potential client they advise and explore with the client other sources of funding litigation.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 17th November 2014

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Assessing loss of a chance – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted November 27th, 2014 in appeals, employment tribunals, law firms, loss of chance, negligence, news by sally

‘In Chweidan v Mischon de Reya Solicitors [2014] EWHC 2685 (QB) Mrs Justice Simler considered the principles to be applied when assessing claims for loss of a chance and provided a helpful overview of a number of the leading authorities.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 17th November 2014

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Retiring law firm partners to be offered short cut to senior judiciary – Legal Futures

Posted November 14th, 2014 in diversity, judiciary, law firms, news by tracey

‘There is to be a drive to recruit retiring law firm partners to the senior judiciary in a bid to improve diversity, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 14th November 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

LeO can hold successor firms to account for inherited complaints, High Court rules – Legal Futures

Posted November 12th, 2014 in complaints, law firms, mergers, news by tracey

‘The High Court has ruled that a law firm cannot escape responsibility for handling complaints relating to a sole practice with which it merged.’

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Legal Futures, 12th November 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court denies Lord Chancellor relief from sanctions in legal aid dispute – Litigation Futures

Posted November 11th, 2014 in law firms, legal aid, lord chancellor, news, sanctions by tracey

‘The High Court has denied the Lord Chancellor relief from sanctions in a case involving an attempt by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) to reclaim £160,000 plus interest from a former law firm 16 years after the final payments were made.’

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Litigation Futures, 11th November 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Supreme Court backs law firm in breach of trust dispute – Legal Futures

Posted November 6th, 2014 in appeals, breach of trust, damages, law firms, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court has backed a law firm’s arguments that, following a breach of trust, it should have to pay in damages only the amount which the lender involved would have lost if the breach had not occurred.’

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Legal Futures, 6th November 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Finding your way – New Law Journal

Posted October 28th, 2014 in budgets, case management, disclosure, documents, law firms, news by sally

‘Jeffrey T Shapiro & James Morrey-Jones examine how law firms should budget for e-discovery post-Jackson.’

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New Law Journal, 27th October 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Inducements ban extended to third parties – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 24th, 2014 in inducements, law firms, news, personal injuries by sally

‘The government has moved to strengthen the proposed ban on personal injury firms offering inducements for claims.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 23rd October 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Building your brand – New Law Journal

Posted October 23rd, 2014 in advertising, law firms, legal services, news by sally

‘Lena Ahad explains how to market legal services more effectively in a digital world.’

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New Law Journal, 23rd October 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

LSB attacks “arbitrary nature” of separate business rule – Legal Futures

Posted October 10th, 2014 in alternative business structures, company law, consumer protection, disclosure, law firms, legal services, news by sally

‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has attacked the “arbitrary nature” of the separate business rule used by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), and said the list of what is permitted and what is not is “confusing”.’

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Legal Futures, 10th October 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA fines firm £2,000 for £2.5m stamp duty avoidance schemes – Legal Futures

Posted October 3rd, 2014 in fines, law firms, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority, stamp duty, tax avoidance by tracey

‘Leading Surrey firm Mundays has been fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for using stamp duty land tax (SDLT) avoidance schemes which saved clients over £2.5m.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd October 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk