Fine for partners over years of multiple accounts rules breaches – Legal Futures

‘Two partners at a former London firm have been fined a total of £25,000 for an improper transfer of a client’s funds and allowing more than 1,700 matters to go stale, among other accounts rules breaches.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 12th August 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitors’ agents and rights of audience – appeal decision – Nearly Legal

‘This is an issue that has come up here a few times (eg this post and this post) – the rights of audience of people who do not have a right of audience in their own right, but attend hearings to carry out advocacy. Now we have a County Court detailed appeal decision on the issue (not binding, but as an appeal to a circuit judge, of persuasive value).’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 7th August 2022

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Solicitor’s pay cut for moving north was lawful, tribunal rules – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Crown Prosecution Service was entitled to reduce the salary of a solicitor who moved to the north-east, an employment judge has ruled.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd August 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judge throws out “career-ending” contempt claim against solicitor – Legal Futures

Posted August 3rd, 2022 in contempt of court, injunctions, news, solicitors by tracey

‘A High Court judge has rejected a potentially “career-ending” contempt application against a solicitor, describing it as “wholly frivolous” and totally without merit.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 3rd August 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Claim against solicitors was attempt to relitigate private prosecution – Legal Futures

‘A professional negligence claim against a firm of solicitors in the North-East has been thrown out as an attempt to relitigate an unsuccessful private prosecution.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 3rd August 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court ruling a warning to lawyers who ‘shoehorn’ claimants into class actions – OUT-LAW.com

‘Lawyers must take note of a court’s refusal to allow multiple claimants with widely differing claims to use a single claim form, a legal expert has warned.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th July 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Judicial diversity – solicitor numbers continue to dwindle – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 15th, 2022 in barristers, diversity, judiciary, legal profession, news, solicitors, statistics, women by tracey

‘Latest judicial diversity statistics continue to paint a bleak picture for solicitors, with the percentage of non-barristers in post lower than it was in 2014.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th July 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BSB to probe if solicitors give clients choice when instructing barristers – Legal futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is to gather evidence from solicitors on how they choose a barrister, including whether they offer their clients a choice – or even take account of a client’s views.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 14th July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

News focus: Divorcing couples are increasingly seeking joint representation – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 12th, 2022 in divorce, legal representation, legal services, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Separating couples are increasingly asking to be represented by the same solicitor. Those involved believe this “one lawyer” service could be the future – and not just for family law.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th July 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Defendant DBAs are unlawful, Court of Appeal rules – Legal Futures

Posted July 8th, 2022 in appeals, damages, fees, news, solicitors by sally

‘An agreement that a defendant will pay their solicitors a percentage of any sums they successfully resist having to pay the claimant is unlawful and unenforceable, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 7th July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court: Ex-City solicitor failed to return $25m fund to Saudi princess – Legal Futures

Posted July 8th, 2022 in forgery, news, powers of attorney, Saudi Arabia, solicitors by sally

‘A former City solicitor was wrong not to return to a Saudi princess a $25m fund he had been managing for her over several years, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 8th July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court criticises SDT for “sweeping anonymity orders” – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 7th, 2022 in anonymity, disciplinary procedures, news, solicitors, third parties by sally

‘A High Court judge has criticised the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for taking it upon itself to issue “sweeping anonymity orders” in respect of all the third parties in a case about a solicitor’s social media posts.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th July 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Baby loss: Legalising leave within the profession – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 5th, 2022 in birth, maternity leave, news, paternity leave, pregnancy, sick leave, solicitors by sally

‘Miscarriage is not an illness and should not be allocated as ‘sick leave.’ The statistics speak for themselves: 1 in 8 pregnancies results in miscarriage, 1 in 90 pregnancies are ectopic and 1 in every 200 births in England is a still birth (death occurring after 24 weeks of pregnancy).’

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Law Society's Gazette, 4th July 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.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

‘I wouldn’t have the money to pay a lawyer’: tenants left without means to sue rogue landlords – The Guardian

‘Poor and vulnerable tenants who are evicted from their homes or living in dangerous conditions will lose the chance to take their landlords to court when new government rules on legal costs come into force next year, experts are warning.’

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The Guardian, 26th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Speech by the Lord Chief Justice: Slynn Lecture – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted June 17th, 2022 in coronavirus, criminal justice, Crown Court, judges, solicitors, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by the Lord Chief Justice: Slynn Lecture.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary , 16th June 2022

Source: www.judiciary.uk

High Court: No case justifies only using grade A fee-earners – Legal Futures

Posted June 16th, 2022 in costs, fees, news, solicitors by sally

‘A High Court judge said yesterday that he has never come across a case where some of the work could not be delegated to a more junior fee-earner.’

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Legal Futures, 16th June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Fine for male trainee who told female colleague: “I roofied your drink” – Legal Futures

Posted June 16th, 2022 in alcohol abuse, disciplinary procedures, fines, harassment, news, solicitors by sally

‘A trainee solicitor who subjected two female colleagues to “harassing and abusive behaviour” at a work Christmas party has been fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 16th June 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Prime Minister must stop attacks on legal professionals, say Bar Council and Law Society – The Bar Council

‘Following the Prime Minister’s comments suggesting lawyers representing migrants were “abetting the work of criminal gangs”, the Bar Council and Law Society of England and Wales have issued [a] joint statement.’

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The Bar Council, 14th June 2022

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk