Firm ordered to pay wasted costs over lack of authority to act – Legal Futures

‘A law firm has been ordered to pay wasted costs of £7,920 for not satisfying itself that the director of a company in deadlock with the other director had the authority to give it instructions.’

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Legal Futures, 5th July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm overturns costs bill misconduct ruling – Legal Futures

‘The rules on misconduct in the CPR do not apply to solicitor/client costs assessments, the High Court has decided in overturning a finding against a Manchester law firm.’

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Legal Futures, 4th July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Extra powers for regulators to clamp down on rule-breaking solicitors – Ministry of Justice

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will be given new powers to fine rule-breakers up to £25,000, under measures introduced today (29 June 2022).’

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Ministry of Justice, 29th June 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Court rejects claim that instructions of counsel create conflict – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 27th, 2022 in barristers, costs, judicial review, law firms, news, professional conduct, pupillage by tracey

‘A costs judge has rejected calls for claimant lawyers to be punished for alleged conflict in the way counsel was instructed to handle a case.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th June 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

SRA seeks whistleblowing role as part of SLAPPs action – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is set to make it easier for law firm staff to blow the whistle on their employers, as part of its work on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).’

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Legal Futures, 23rd June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Most female lawyers believe they will not experience pay equality – Legal Futures

Posted June 23rd, 2022 in equal pay, law firms, news, reports, women by sally

‘Most female lawyers (84%) believe that gender pay equality will not be achieved until after they retire and that firms’ commitment is more about headlines than real change.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm fails in summary judgment bid over negligence claim – Legal Futures

‘A law firm being sued for more than £2m over a failure to advise properly has failed in its bid for summary judgment over several of the allegations made against it.’

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Legal Futures, 13th June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judge calls for guidance on rights of unqualified agency advocates – Legal Futures

Posted June 10th, 2022 in advocacy, barristers, county courts, law firms, news, solicitors by sally

‘County court judges would benefit from “more authoritative guidance” from the higher courts on whether unqualified solicitor’s agents have rights of audience, a circuit judge has said.’

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Legal Futures, 10th June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘The worst law on earth’: why the rich love London’s reputation managers – The Guardian

‘Boris Johnson has vowed to level the playing field on which oligarchs stifle those who scrutinise them. How can he do it?’

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The Guardian, 8th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court refuses judicial review of SRA and LAA over control order – Legal Futures

‘A non-solicitor has failed in his attempt to judicially review a control order imposed on him by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) six years ago.’

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Legal Futures, 30th May 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Identity of person instructing solicitors not covered by privilege – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has rejected a company’s claim to litigation privilege over the identity of who instructed its lawyers.’

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Legal Futures, 16th May 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barrister given green light to pursue outstanding fees claim – Legal Futures

Posted May 16th, 2022 in barristers, fees, jurisdiction, law firms, news by tracey

‘The High Court has rejected an Italian law firm’s bid to stay a barrister’s claim for outstanding fees because of an action it took against him in its home country.’

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Legal Futures, 16th May 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judge blasts ‘wasteful’ lawyers who filed 6,000-page bundles – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 16th, 2022 in costs, judges, law firms, news, solicitors by tracey

‘A High Court judge has issued a stern rebuke to lawyers who ran up massive costs and lumbered the court with voluminous bundles.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 16th May 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitors lose appeal over £2m invoice charged through DBA – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 13th, 2022 in appeals, costs, damages, insolvency, law firms, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal has dismissed an attempt by solicitors to secure a £2m payment from an insolvent client for work carried out on a damages based agreement.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 12th May 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘We will sue the pants off them’: outrage over LAA announcement – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 13th, 2022 in criminal justice, law firms, legal aid, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The Legal Aid Agency has sparked panic among the criminal defence community by announcing that some providers could lose out on work when new contracts begin this autumn. One firm, for which legal aid comprises 60% of its workload, told the Gazette that it could go out of business.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 12th May 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Priti Patel blames lawyers as she admits Rwanda plan will ‘take time’ – The Guardian

Posted May 10th, 2022 in government departments, immigration, law firms, news, refugees by sally

‘Priti Patel has admitted that it will take time to establish the government’s high-profile plan to send people who arrive in the UK without authorisation to Rwanda, amid growing suspicion that it will not solve the migration crisis in the Channel.’

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The Guardian, 10th May 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Litigant banned over ‘unjustified’ complaints to regulators – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A former nurse who made “wholly inappropriate and unjustified allegations of wrongdoing” against lawyers has been banned from bringing proceedings for two years by a High Court judge, who said regulators must be “astute in identifying litigants who abusively use [the] regulatory process”.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 6th May 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Lawyers limit community care cases “to help firms stay afloat” – Legal Futures

‘Community care lawyers are limiting the amount and type of legal aid work they do to ensure that their firms remain financially viable, a report has found.’

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Legal Futures, 6th May 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

No retainer between law firm and businessman in £2.5m dispute – Legal Futures

Posted May 6th, 2022 in damages, law firms, loss of chance, news by tracey

‘There was no express or implied retainer between a Buckinghamshire law firm and a businessman with a “colourful commercial career” suing it for £2.5m in damages, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 6th May 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm says staff can work from home – for 20% less pay – BBC News

Posted May 3rd, 2022 in flexible working, law firms, news, remuneration by sally

‘A London law firm has offered staff the option to work from home permanently, but the convenience comes at a price.’

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BBC News, 2nd May 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk