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BSB calls in external law firm to help with cross-qualifying lawyers
The Bar Standards Board is set to bring in external solicitors to help clear the sizeable backlog of applications by foreign lawyers wanting to requalify at the Bar.
Rebuke for solicitor who held onto client money for 14 years
A solicitor who retained client money for 14 years without good reason has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Traditional partnership losing appeal, says boss of PE-backed firm
The traditional partnership model is losing its grip on solicitors, according to the boss of a private equity-owned firm who says it has been able to do things it could not before the takeover.
Burford doubles funding for cases led by diverse lawyers
Litigation funder Burford Capital has set aside a further $150m (£115m) for cases led by women or ethnic minority lawyers.
Barrister disbarred over CV that lied about work in chambers
A barrister who lied about having practised from a well-known London set when in fact he had never even gone through pupillage has been disbarred.
Smaller firms falling out of love with merger, research finds
One in 10 smaller law firms are open to mergers or acquisitions, a proportion which has fallen steadily over the last two years, new research has found.
Male barristers “not being held to account” for bullying women
The Bar Standards Board is “not holding perpetrator barristers accountable for harassment and bullying of women”, female barrister groups have argued.
Scottish law firm extends English footprint with City acquisition
Scottish law firm Gilson Gray has extended its expansion south of the border by acquiring City of London-based PCM Solicitors, with plans to enter other markets too.
Veteran solicitor and domestic abuse victim can return to roll
A veteran solicitor who was struck off in 2002 “against a background of traumatic domestic abuse” has been allowed to return to the roll to work in a pro bono law clinic.
Law Society tells criminal legal aid firms to consider pulling out
The Law Society is advising criminal legal aid firms to carry out ‘viability reviews’ to determine whether they are able continue to provide services, and if they are, “whether scaling back is necessary”.
Blog
Five key issues to consider when adopting an AI-based legal tech
As generative AI starts to play a bigger role in our working lives, there are some key issues that your law firm needs to consider when adopting an AI-based legal tech.
Bulk litigation – not always working in consumers interests
For consumers to get the benefit, bulk litigation needs to be done well, and we are increasingly concerned that there are significant problems in some areas of this market.
ABSs, cost and audits – fixing regulation after Axiom Ince
A feature of law firm collapses and frauds has sometimes been the over-concentration of power in outdated and overburdened systems of control.
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