Law firms risk claims without safeguards for generative AI – Legal Futures

Posted August 7th, 2023 in artificial intelligence, law firms, negligence, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Law firms must either introduce “safeguards that include human oversight” to authenticate AI-generated content or “expect an increased exposure” to negligence claims, a leading law firm has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 7th August 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

How not to talk about capacity and mental illness – Doughty Street Chambers

‘A recent High Court appeal – concerning an application made by a litigation friend to be discharged from her position – contains some useful observations on inappropriate submissions and language used by lawyers in cases raising issues of mental illness and capacity.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 19th July 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Solicitors “should get empathy training”, LSB research suggests – Legal Futures

‘Solicitors should get training in “soft skills/empathy” as part of their continuing professional development (CPD), research for the Legal Services Board (LSB) has suggested.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd August 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Watchdog shuts three solicitors firms accused in asylum sting – The Guardian

‘Three law firms in England accused of wrongdoing in dealing with asylum applications have been shut down by the solicitors’ watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 31st July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Sunak “undermining trust in lawyers”, says Bar Council – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Council has accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of undermining trust in the profession by claiming that a “subset of lawyers” are exploiting illegal migrants for profit.’

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Legal Futures, 26th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Legal aid JR to be heard in run-up to Christmas – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A judicial review of the lord chancellor’s decision not to raise criminal legal aid fees for solicitors by the minimum 15% recommended by a government-commissioned review will be heard in the weeks leading up to Christmas, the Gazette has learned.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th July 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

CA rejects latest challenge to costs deduction from damages – Legal Futures

Posted July 17th, 2023 in appeals, damages, fees, law firms, news, personal injuries, solicitors, time limits by tracey

‘The time for a client to challenge a solicitor’s deduction from their damages runs from the time the deduction is made, without the client having to agree the specific amount, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 17th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Contractual costs in the Tribunal & County Court, with a guest appearance – Nearly Legal

Posted July 11th, 2023 in costs, county courts, leases, news, service charges, solicitors, tribunals by sally

‘The underlying proceedings were a small claim in the County Court by Crescent (via Davidoff as agent) for unpaid service charges against Mr Behjat as leaseholder. It was, apparently, transferred to the FTT for determination of payability and reasonableness of the service charges. It appears that there was then a Tribunal decision, and simultaneous County Court order made by the Tribunal judge sitting as a county court judge.’

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Nearly Legal, 10th July 2023

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

“AI won’t replace lawyers – so long as they embrace it,” says top City firm – Legal Futures

‘Generative artificial intelligence (AI) will not replace lawyers, but lawyers who use it will replace those who do not, the head of lawtech at a leading City law firm has predicted.’

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Legal Futures, 6th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Misconduct: ‘No simple explanation’ for race bias in complaints – Law Society’s Gazette

‘”Socio-cognitive biases” could account for the over-representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic solicitors in complaints about potential misconduct raised with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 23rd June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Legal firms urged to strengthen cyber defences with latest guidance from experts – The Bar Council

Posted June 23rd, 2023 in barristers, computer crime, computer programs, law firms, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The updated report from the NCSC highlights the key threats that the UK legal sector face and how to improve cyber security.’

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The Bar Council, 22nd June 2023

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

High Court: Letter asserting solicitor’s lien was not defamatory – Legal Futures

Posted June 16th, 2023 in damages, defamation, fees, law firms, negligence, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The High Court has thrown out a defamation claim over a letter sent by one law firm to another asserting a solicitor’s lien over £100,000 of any damages awarded to its former clients.’

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Legal Futures, 16th June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm takes civil action against “abusive” opposing party – Legal Futures

‘A law firm has had to take civil action against the father on the opposite side of a child contact dispute because of the abuse he has directed at it and the solicitor running the case.’

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Legal Futures, 12th June 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

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