Practice Management
Owners of closed law firms told: Find extra run-off cover – if you can
Owners of law firms that closed down in the last 20 years have been warned that they face a difficult task in finding insurance to replace the automatic supplementary run-off cover that ends later this year.
Call for work to make consumer-facing legal documents more intelligible
Lawyers need to make consumer-facing legal documents more engaging, and regulators and industry should consider measures to ensure they are intelligible, a report has recommended.
160 firms sign up to consumer app aiming to transform access to lawyers
An app linking consumers to lawyers who provide free video consultations has been launched this week after three months of testing with 20 law firms – more than 160 firms have now signed up.
Firm to use AI to triage new clients and give initial advice
A law firm is deploying artificial intelligence software that will become the first point of contact for all new clients, trained to offer initial legal advice and triage cases.
SRA backs new cyber-losses clause for indemnity policies
The extent to which losses caused by cyber attacks are covered by law firms’ professional indemnity insurance policies is to be clarified by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Negligence claim against Irwin Mitchell thrown out after assignment
National law firm Irwin Mitchell has been granted summary judgment in a professional negligence claim because the retainer prevented its former client assigning his cause of action.
Law firm and top entrepreneur ramp up Thirdfort backing
Digital onboarding platform Thirdfort has secured £1.5m in its latest fundraising, with further backing from Zoopla entrepreneur Alex Chesterman and London law firm Mishcon de Reya.
Ince launches client onboarding solution for estate agents
Listed law firm Ince has launched a product to help estate agents onboard clients in a way that meets the demands of anti-money laundering regulations.
Bristol and Bath region targets growing lawtech role
There is a “growing cluster” of lawtech businesses in the Bristol and Bath area, along with hundreds of lawtech and innovation roles, with the chance to build on this significantly, new research has found.
No TUPE protection for staff after firm’s owner made bankrupt
There was no protection for staff under the TUPE after the sole owner of a law firm was made bankrupt and the practice taken over, the Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled.
Wellbeing a “global problem” with severe effects on some lawyers
Lawyer wellbeing is “a cause for global concern”, with levels of wellbeing below the average in every part of the globe, the first survey of its kind has found.
Law firm’s virtual careers event attracts 7,000 teenagers
A law firm has attracted over 7,000 teenagers to the first day of a virtual careers event, in partnership with a young entrepreneur who set up a recruitment business while studying for his A-levels.
Law firm did not discriminate against menopausal apprentice
A law firm did not discriminate against a legal secretary turned apprentice with menopausal symptoms on the grounds of disability or sex, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Fitness to practise regime “can deal with incompetent lawyers”
There must be a “third way” of ensuring that qualified lawyers are competent without relying on disciplinary proceedings, the director of regulation and policy at the Legal Services Board has said.
Lawtech start-up outlines big ambitions for family law disputes
A lawtech start-up aiming to improve communication between family lawyers and their clients has explained how its product could in time help identify cases involving coercive control.