Category: legal profession

Legal regulators slammed for “lacking expertise” on comparison data – Legal Futures

Posted October 18th, 2021 in barristers, computer programs, law firms, legal profession, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by tracey

‘Lawyer data already in the public domain cannot easily be adapted to help consumers choose a lawyer, mainly due to failings by legal regulators, according to research.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 18th October 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Human rights lawyers call on UK government to ban ‘conversion therapy’ – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2021 in barristers, gender, homosexuality, human rights, legal profession, news, sexual orientation discrimination, transgender persons by tracey

‘Leading human rights lawyers and experts have called for swift action to outlaw so-called conversion therapy, which they say is degrading and harmful, and should not be tolerated in a civilised society.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 1st October 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Guidelines for Lawyers Practising within the Coroners’ Court – Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog

Posted September 24th, 2021 in barristers' clerks, codes of practice, conflict of interest, coroners, disclosure, inquests, legal profession, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘New guidelines for legal professionals practising within the Coroners’ Courts have been published by the Bar Standards Board, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and CILEx Regulation. The new guidelines were introduced in response to concerns, particularly about the adversarial approach adopted by some lawyers. The key takeaways are summarised below.’

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Inquests and Inquiries Law Blog, 20th September 2021

Source: inquestsandinquirieslawblog.com

QC calls on UK to support female judges at risk in Afghanistan – The Guardian

Posted September 22nd, 2021 in Afghanistan, asylum, barristers, data protection, electronic mail, government departments, immigration, judges, legal profession, news, refugees, women by sally

‘Helena Kennedy QC has launched an urgent appeal to provide support to judges along with lawyers, women’s rights activists, human rights defenders and their families at risk in Afghanistan and in need of a safe haven abroad.’

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The Guardian, 21st September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

New guidelines published for legal professionals practising within the Coroners’ Courts – Bar Standards Board

Posted September 14th, 2021 in bereavement, coroners, legal profession, news, press releases, standards by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and CILEx Regulation have today published new guidance designed to ensure standards for solicitors, barristers and CILEX Advocates working in the Coroners’ Courts.’

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Bar Standards Board, 13th September 2021

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Post Office scandal inquiry urged to put more focus on the lawyers – Legal Futures

Posted September 10th, 2021 in barristers, class actions, computer programs, fraud, inquiries, legal profession, news, postal service, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

‘The inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal has been urged to put more focus on the role of lawyers in perpetuating the organisation’s intransigence over the IT system’s problems.’

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Legal Futures, 10th September 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Black lawyers most likely to say racial injustice has held back careers – Legal Futures

Posted August 10th, 2021 in legal profession, minorities, news, race discrimination, statistics by sally

‘Black lawyers are much more likely than Asian colleagues to say that racial injustice has held them back in their careers, a survey has found.’

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Legal Futures, 10th August 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Evaluation of flexible court hours stresses need to get lawyers onboard – Legal Futures

Posted August 3rd, 2021 in courts, flexible working, legal profession, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Flexible operating hours (FOH) can make it easier for people to access civil and family justice, but there needs to a lot more work to bring solicitors and barristers on board, research into two pilot schemes has said.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd August 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Defensive Advising Strategies 2: Know Your Client – Wilberforce Chambers

Posted July 27th, 2021 in barristers, chambers articles, codes of practice, conflict of interest, financial dispute resolution, legal profession, legal services, money laundering, news, solicitors by sally

‘With a history in the world of financial services regulation, “know your customer/client” or “KYC” is a cornerstone of professional practice. What does it mean for legal professionals? In this instalment of my series on defensive advising strategies, I consider three aspects of KYC which are particularly relevant to lawyers, with an emphasis on the interface between solicitors and other professionals and the barristers they instruct. This perspective is based on my own experience as a practitioner and raises issues which crop up relatively frequently.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 22nd July 2021

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

Stronger rules on ongoing competence move step closer – Legal Futures

Posted July 21st, 2021 in barristers, continuing professional development, legal profession, legal services, Legal Services Board, news, quality assurance, solicitors by sally

‘The current regulatory approach to lawyers’ ongoing competence needs to change, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has concluded, with assessments such as spot checks likely to be part of the reform.’

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Legal Futures, 20th July 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ep147: Vicarious Trauma in the Legal Profession – Law Pod UK

Posted July 20th, 2021 in legal profession, mental health, news, podcasts by sally

‘In Episode 147 Emma-Louise Fenelon speaks to Rachel Francis and Joanna Fleck about their book Vicarious Trauma in the Legal Profession.’

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Law Pod UK, 19th July 2021

Source: audioboom.com

Judicial diversity goes into reverse as barristers dominate – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 16th, 2021 in barristers, diversity, judiciary, legal profession, news, solicitors, statistics by tracey

‘Latest diversity statistics show once again a judiciary dominated by barristers – with the number of non-barristers in post lower than it was in 2014.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th July 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Public supports stronger ongoing competence checks for lawyers – Legal Futures

Posted July 9th, 2021 in consultations, continuing professional development, examinations, legal profession, news by michael

‘There is near unanimity among the public that lawyers should have to demonstrate more actively than now that they remain competent throughout their careers, the Legal Services Board has found.’

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Legal Futures, 9th July 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lawyers should have to take competence tests “every 10 years” – Legal Futures

Posted June 30th, 2021 in barristers, continuing professional development, legal profession, legal services, Legal Services Board, news, quality assurance, solicitors, statistics by sally

‘Lawyers should have to take online tests every 10 years to prove that they remain competent in their specialist fields, Sarah Chambers, chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP), said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 30th June 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Susskind: “Harder than expected” to reduce legal work to lawyer-free process – Legal Futures

Posted June 28th, 2021 in law firms, legal profession, legal services, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The extent to which legal work can be reduced purely to administration and process has been overstated and in fact “lawyers are needed for all legal jobs”, Professor Richard Susskind has acknowledged.’

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Legal Futures, 28th June 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Susskind: “Trainees will learn like astronauts – with virtual reality” – Legal Futures

Posted June 14th, 2021 in computer programs, legal education, legal profession, news by tracey

‘Trainee lawyers in future may do their legal training by using immersive virtual reality software simulating the practice environment, much like astronauts being made ready for space, Professor Richard Susskind has predicted.’

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Legal Futures, 14th June 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Black lawyers call on profession to be “example of anti-racism” – Legal Futures

Posted June 9th, 2021 in barristers, diversity, equality, legal profession, news, race discrimination, racism, solicitors by sally

‘The group Black Women in Law has called on fellow lawyers to be an “example of anti-racism in action” by challenging racism whenever they see it and wherever they hear it.’

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Legal Futures, 9th June 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lord Chancellor outlines his plans to recover the justice system from COVID-19 – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 7th, 2021 in civil justice, coronavirus, courts, criminal justice, legal profession, lord chancellor, Ministry of Justice, speeches by tracey

‘The Lord Chancellor spoke at the Law Society to thank the hidden heroes who kept justice moving during the COVID-19 pandemic and outlined his plans for recovering the system, as well as propelling it towards a better future.’

Full speech

Ministry of Justice, 4th June 2021

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Narcissism and Family Law – a practitioner’s guide – Family Law Week

Posted June 7th, 2021 in barristers, divorce, families, legal profession, mental health, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Karin Walker, Founder of KGW Family Law, provides a guide to help family lawyers identify and manage narcissistic behaviour in any divorce or separation.’

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Family Law Week, 4th June 2021

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

LSB diversity report finds multiple failings by regulators – Legal Futures

Posted May 28th, 2021 in barristers, diversity, equality, legal profession, Legal Services Board, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Measures taken by frontline legal regulators to improve diversity and inclusion are insufficient and based on inadequate evidence, according to a report published by the Legal Services Board (LSB).’

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Legal Futures, 28th May 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk