Partnerships could now be saddled with a new layer of financial and administrative responsibility after a Supreme Court ruling last week found that partners are ‘workers’ for the purposes of whistleblowing legislation. Continue reading “Firms face additional partner pensions liability after Supreme Court defines LLP members as ‘workers’”
Bleak reading for all but the biggest law firms in latest Law Society statistics report
The squeeze on the legal profession is in evidence in the latest annual statistics report from the Law Society, which reveals the first decline for over 20 years in both the number of practising and non-practising solicitors across England and Wales; a decline in all but the largest private practice firms; and a further drop in the number of lawyers making partner. Continue reading “Bleak reading for all but the biggest law firms in latest Law Society statistics report”
The Bar 1-0 MoJ: Crown court halts serious fraud trial over lack of representation
In an embarrassing setback for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in its long running dispute over legal aid with the Bar, a Crown court judge today (1 January) halted a costly publicly funded serious fraud trial after the defendants failed to find representation. Continue reading “The Bar 1-0 MoJ: Crown court halts serious fraud trial over lack of representation”
Law Society lines up TLT’s senior partner to take over as president
The Law Society has today (24 April) announced that TLT Solicitors senior partner Robert Bourns has been elected as the body’s deputy vice president, with the expectation that he will become president in 2016. Continue reading “Law Society lines up TLT’s senior partner to take over as president”
‘Why don’t parties and their donors pay to run Parliament?’ MoJ pushes ahead with controversial court fees reform
Despite fierce accusations from within the senior echelons of the legal profession that the Government has failed to comprehend the Courts’ standing as an essential institution of the State, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) this week announced it will push ahead with the first stage of its proposals to overhaul court fees in civil claims. Continue reading “‘Why don’t parties and their donors pay to run Parliament?’ MoJ pushes ahead with controversial court fees reform”
A&O duo at risk of SRA investigation after criticism of Dahdaleh conduct
Two senior litigators from Allen & Overy (A&O) face the possibility of an investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) following allegations of misconduct during a high profile fraud case. Continue reading “A&O duo at risk of SRA investigation after criticism of Dahdaleh conduct”
End of the lawyer glut? Latest stats show fall of 3,000 working solicitors amid profession in flux
With the impact of the latest cuts to legal aid yet to bite, the number of practising solicitors in the UK in 2014 was revised down by 3,189 between January and February 2014, according to the latest figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Continue reading “End of the lawyer glut? Latest stats show fall of 3,000 working solicitors amid profession in flux”
Race to provide direct legal services sees Allianz convert to an ABS
Last year they hit your television with an advert comparing the stresses of the daily commute and school run to a formula one race but this week multi-billion UK personal and business insurer Allianz entered the race to provide direct legal services to their customers by converting to an alterative business structure, after being granted a licence by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Continue reading “Race to provide direct legal services sees Allianz convert to an ABS”
Reforming the reforms: One-year-on Jackson soundings likely to lead to further calls for overhaul of DBAs
The first year bedding down Lord Justice Jackson’s extensive civil litigation reforms was always going to be challenging, but as the Civil Justice Council (CJC) this month announces a one-year-in soundings process, senior City litigators are expected to call for a radical overhaul of the largely unpopular damages-based agreements (DBA) provisions ushered in by the reforms.
Announced on 13 February, the CJC is inviting written submissions from the legal profession on the ‘practical impact’ of the reforms and will hold a conference in March to discuss the submissions with representatives of stakeholder groups such as practitioners, the judiciary, consumers, major court users and other interested parties. Continue reading “Reforming the reforms: One-year-on Jackson soundings likely to lead to further calls for overhaul of DBAs”
In-house lawyers to be affected by impact of ABS as hundreds of corporates consider conversion
Up to 700 companies, public authorities and charities could currently be considering the business case for applying to become an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) according to a report commissioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) on the in-house market.
Published yesterday (4 February), the report, simply called ‘the role of in-house solicitors’, surveyed over 2,000 in-house solicitors as well as 213 representatives from organisations employing in-house solicitors. Continue reading “In-house lawyers to be affected by impact of ABS as hundreds of corporates consider conversion”