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Simmons & Simmons hikes Bristol NQ pay to record £104k
Exclusive: Six-figure first The post Simmons & Simmons hikes Bristol NQ pay to record £104k appeared first on Legal Cheek .
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Legal Futures
SRA and Law Society to collect £224m from solicitors
The Law Society and SRA are set to collect a total of £224m in fees from solicitors for the next practising year, £50m more than the current year. The post SRA and Law Society to collect £224m from solicitors appeared first on Legal Futures .
Neil Rose
Legal Futures
Man who targeted barristers with fake bombs fails in appeal
Appeal judges have upheld the conviction and sentence imposed on the man who hired an ex-Royal Marine to plant fake bombs outside the chambers of two barristers. The post Man who targeted barristers with fake bombs fails in appeal appeared first on Legal Futures .
Nick Hilborne
Legal Futures
Strike-off for solicitor who exploited vulnerable investors
A solicitor who “exploited and misled” the Zimbabwean women she claimed to be empowering has been struck off. The post Strike-off for solicitor who exploited vulnerable investors appeared first on Legal Futures .
Nick Hilborne
Legal Futures
APIL calls for flexibility on ethics discussions
The SRA should not impose an “overly burdensome and arbitrary” annual requirement on law firms to hold three-hour ethics discussions for their solicitors, says APIL. The post APIL calls for flexibility on ethics discussions appeared first on Legal Futures .
Nick Hilborne
Legal Futures
Is the legal profession ready for agentic AI?
An AI agent is difficult to supervise. By design, it works in the background. It means a solicitor can be held responsible for work they had no real means to oversee. The post Is the legal profession ready for agentic AI? appeared first on Legal Futures .
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Cyber insurance: Addressing common misconceptions
Cyber risk has become a major concern for businesses of all sizes, but persistent misconceptions continue to hold many organisations back from investing in cyber insurance. The post Cyber insurance: Addressing common misconceptions appeared first on Legal Futures .
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Bar Council confirms key pupillage application dates
Aspiring barristers take note The post Bar Council confirms key pupillage application dates appeared first on Legal Cheek .
Saul Agar-Ward
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Training contract application season is coming: here’s how to actually get one
Top tips from a future trainee The post Training contract application season is coming: here’s how to actually get one appeared first on Legal Cheek .
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Legal Futures
Why firms stall in adopting AI and how to unlock real progress
If your firm is hesitating on AI, it’s almost never the technology that’s in the way. What stalls adoption is everything that surrounds the tool. The post Why firms stall in adopting AI and how to unlock real progress appeared first on Legal Futures .
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Legal Futures
Businessman can continue £20m law firm negligence claim
A businessman can continue with a £20m counterclaim for negligence against a City law firm suing for fees of £194,000, the High Court has ruled. The post Businessman can continue £20m law firm negligence claim appeared first on Legal Futures .
Nick Hilborne
Legal Futures
Suspension for solicitor who let work as deputy drift for 16 years
A solicitor who acted as a deputy for 16 years and did little to protect his interests in that time has been suspended from practice for six months. The post Suspension for solicitor who let work as deputy drift for 16 years appeared first on Legal Futures .
Neil Rose
Legal Futures
Value of medico-legal market tops £700m
The value of the medico-legal market is back above £700m for the first time since 2019 amid concerns about a shrinking pool of experts, research has found. The post Value of medico-legal market tops £700m appeared first on Legal Futures .
Nick Hilborne
Legal Cheek
Junior solicitor struck off after asking colleague to hide file
Denied it when confronted by firm The post Junior solicitor struck off after asking colleague to hide file appeared first on Legal Cheek .
Julia Szaniszlo
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Mishcon launches memorial fund following death of junior lawyer
Includes bursary at Sheffield Uni Law School The post Mishcon launches memorial fund following death of junior lawyer appeared first on Legal Cheek .
Julia Szaniszlo
Legal Cheek
Monday morning round-up
The top legal affairs news stories from this morning and the weekend The post Monday morning round-up appeared first on Legal Cheek .
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Burges Salmon and Russell-Cooke release latest NQ retention rates
93% and 75% The post Burges Salmon and Russell-Cooke release latest NQ retention rates appeared first on Legal Cheek .
Saul Agar-Ward
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‘I’ve already accepted a TC — should I ditch it for a Magic Circle offer?’
Advice needed The post ‘I’ve already accepted a TC — should I ditch it for a Magic Circle offer?’ appeared first on Legal Cheek .
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Employment Appeal Tribunal sets aside ruling over sacking of Fieldfisher associate
'Erroneous conclusion' The post Employment Appeal Tribunal sets aside ruling over sacking of Fieldfisher associate appeared first on Legal Cheek .
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‘I passed SQE1. 6 practical tips so you can too’
Having successfully navigated one of the most challenging exams in legal training, Legal Cheek's Nadia Ismail shares what helped her along the way The post ‘I passed SQE1. 6 practical tips so you can too’ appeared first on Legal Cheek .
Nadia Ismail
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Latham & Watkins gives sneak peek inside new London HQ, complete with juice stations, client fine dining and private fitness suites
Amenities aplenty The post Latham & Watkins gives sneak peek inside new London HQ, complete with juice stations, client fine dining and private fitness suites appeared first on Legal Cheek .
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Solicitor who posed as police officer to spy on ex-partner at Nando’s handed community order
Access CCTV The post Solicitor who posed as police officer to spy on ex-partner at Nando’s handed community order appeared first on Legal Cheek .
Saul Agar-Ward
Legal Futures
SRA uses settlement agreements "to put pressure on solicitors"
Solicitors need to have confidence that they will be treated fairly by their regulator if they are to be encouraged to admit errors, a former partner suspended for misconduct has argued.
Legal Futures
Top employment solicitor hits out at conduct of big City law firms
A leading employment lawyer has hit out at the conduct of some law firms when negotiating non-disclosure agreements for employers.
Legal Futures
Barrister made nude modelling comments to trainee police officer
The barrister and amateur photographer suspended for two years for a conversation with a woman about nude modelling made the comments to a trainee police officer.
Legal Futures
Huge growth in income and profit at Co-op Legal Services
Co-operative Legal Services is ahead of its stated ambition to become a £100m operation by 2027 after announcing a 24% rise in turnover last year to £84m.
Legal Futures
Major firm offers staff £1m bonus for million AI prompts
Staff at national law firm Shoosmiths will share a £1m bonus if they make a million Microsoft Copilot prompts in its next financial year.
Legal Futures
Managed legal services: A different type of career in law?
Law firm career ladders can be steep, heady and hugely rewarding. However, the trainee-to-partner journey is not for everyone. Fortunately, other options are available.
Legal Futures
UK software company launches first private sovereign AI for business
OneAdvanced, trusted UK headquartered software provider, has announced the launch of OneAdvanced AI - a secure Large Language Model (LLM) made with businesses in mind delivering AI for role, organisation, and sector-specific work.
Legal Futures
SRA: Claims firms "destabilised" by litigation funding deals
Relationships with litigation funders are destabilising some high-volume consumer claims law firms, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has warned.
Legal Futures
Tribunal warns solicitors of dangers when acting for family
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has warned solicitors of the dangers of acting for family members after fining one who preferred his wife in the distribution of an estate.
Legal Futures
Judges tell government not to extend whiplash tariff model
The senior judiciary has warned the government not to extend the whiplash tariff to larger or different types of claims, it emerged yesterday.
Legal Futures
Settlement agreement legal fees part of NDA problem, MPs told
The money employers have to pay employees for legal advice on settlement agreements is not enough to deal with the NDAs they routinely include, MPs were told yesterday.
Legal Futures
How are you adapting to fixed recoverable costs: Take the survey
We here at Legal Futures, in conjunction with the FRCConnect team at Kain Knight Costs Lawyers, are keen to understand how the legal profession has been affected so far and identify any trends and challenges.
Legal Futures
Transitioning from employed solicitor to consultant: A personal journey
After spending the early years of my career in legal practice working in a traditional role as an employed solicitor, I found myself yearning for greater flexibility and autonomy.
Legal Futures
Law firms urged to put ethics at heart of deciding who to act for
Law firms should adopt a ‘legitimate provenance of wealth test’ when taking on clients as part of an ethics-based approach that goes beyond legal or regulatory tests.
Legal Futures
DWF accused of data protection breaches in battle with claimant firm
Solicitors for leading insurers have been accused of data protection breaches in collating evidence about the way a North London firm pursued personal injury claims.
Legal Futures
Solicitor suspended after client's millions pass through bank account
The first solicitor prosecuted for ‘tipping off’ a client about a money laundering investigation has now been suspended for allowing a client to use his firm’s account as a banking facility.
Legal Futures
How junior lawyers should deal with difficult clients
Despite engaging a lawyer, some clients want to take the lead and on occasion you meet a client who thinks they know better than you. This is particularly so if you are at the start of your career.
Legal Futures
The vital role of funding: key points for the CJC’s review of the sector
This article looks at some of the key points that the two funding industry bodies – the Association of Litigation Funders (ALF) and the International Legal Finance Association (ILFA) – have been making in their joint submission to the review.
Legal Futures
Legal regulators have "key role" in improving access to justice
Innovation sandboxes, mandatory regulation of paralegals and new sources of funding – like interest on client accounts – are among ideas of how regulation can improve access to justice.
Legal Futures
Law Society and Bar Council criticise performance of regulatory arms
Both the Law Society and Bar Council have criticised their regulatory arms over the LSB's assessment that their performance was inadequate and needed urgent improvement.
Legal Futures
Lawyers and lenders agog as Supreme Court hears motor finance case
All eyes are on the Supreme Court this morning as it begins a three-day hearing on motor finance commissions that could open up or close down a major new source of legal work.
Legal Futures
SRA investigation into Prigozhin lawyers was "supine"
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s investigation into the former lawyers of Russian warlord Evgeny Prigozhin was “supine”, a leading media lawyer has argued.
Legal Futures
How the digital age is reshaping trust in legal services
National Claims understands trust is everything in the world we live in, which is why the team dedicates considerable resources to building an unparalleled reputation within the claims sector.
Legal Futures
Search Acumen comments on HMRC property transactions in February following the Spring Statement
Search Acumen (property data insight and technology provider) comments on HMRC’s property transaction data for February 2025.
Legal Futures
Unlocking new opportunities: How law firms can benefit from partnering with Nexa
The legal industry is evolving rapidly, and traditional law firms are facing increasing pressures—from shifting client expectations to the rising costs of operations.
Legal Futures
SRA and BSB in the dock over inadequate performance
The two largest legal regulators – the SRA and BSB – are the only ones to fail their performance assessments over the past year, the Legal Services Board revealed today.
Legal Futures
Embracing flexibility: the new normal for UK law firms?
There's been a notable shift in the narrative around flexible working, with UK businesses and public sector organisations applying increased pressure on staff to return to the office.
Legal Futures
Judge attacks process-driven approach to credit hire claims
A senior district judge has again attacked credit hire claims, as well as a process-driven approach to bringing them, in a case where he awarded £1,200 for a claim valued at £50,200.
Legal Futures
Top US firm cuts $100m deal to avoid Trump executive order
Top US firm Skadden has struck a pre-emptive deal with President Donald Trump to provide at least $100m in pro bono services to avoid facing an executive action like other law firms.
Legal Futures
Government provides £6m for next round of legal support grants
The Ministry of Justice has pledged £6m to the next round of funding for providers of early legal advice, after research reinforced how effective it can be.
Legal Futures
Maximising profit margins: How working with a claims management company helps solicitors scale faster
For solicitors dealing in high-volume areas of claims, maintaining and maximising profitability while ensuring compliance and quality service is a constant challenge.
Legal Futures
Discover how to build a tech-first law firm
The latest episode in Osprey Approach’s podcast series, Empowering Law Firm Leaders, discusses the critical elements of building a tech-first law firm, the importance of ‘failing fast’, and the benefits of legal technology.
Legal Futures
Land Data extends NLIS Hub service provider contract with Decision Insight Group to March 2027
Land Data has today confirmed that the licence to operate The National Land Information Service (NLIS) Hub with Decision Insight Group (DIG) has been extended to March 2027.
Legal Futures
Brabners partners with inaugural World Boxing Championships in Liverpool
Brabners has strengthened its commitment to Liverpool and elite sport in the UK by becoming an official partner of the inaugural World Boxing Championships
Legal Futures
iManage uses Microsoft Co-Authoring to unlock smarter, more efficient collaboration
Next Generation Co-authoring capability eliminates friction and inefficiencies while letting customers stay in total control, driving maximum productivity
Legal Futures
Treasury: Whiplash reforms have saved policyholders £31
The whiplash reforms saved policyholders £31 in premiums in the first three years of their operation, according to figures released yesterday by HM Treasury.
Legal Futures
Bellingcat founder accuses SRA of "shirking responsibility" over SLAPP
The journalist at the centre of the row over the SRA's decision not to take action against the former solicitors of a Russian warlord has accused the regulator of shirking its responsibilities.
Legal Futures
Legal market's strong growth in 2024 set to continue this year
The UK legal services market grew by 10% to £52bn last year and is heading towards a strong 2025 too, according to new research.
Legal Futures
Five common myths about claims management
Posted by Daniel Brito, managing director of Legal Futures Associate National Claims The claims management sector has long been misunderstood, with
Legal Futures
Oligarch's ex-wife drops negligence claim against former solicitors
Top family law firm Payne Hicks Beach has expressed itself “pleased but not surprised” by the decision of a high-profile former client to drop her negligence action against it.
Legal Futures
What your clients expect in 2025: Embracing change to deliver exceptional service
The legal landscape is evolving rapidly and law firms have an opportunity to stand out by adapting to what today’s clients value most: speed, transparency, and convenience.
Legal Futures
Narrow AML rules allow lawyers to act for "lawful but awful" clients
The narrow focus of the AML regime on criminality leaves solicitors “free to facilitate and legitimise the flow of corrupt capital while staying within the bounds of the law”, says a major report.
Legal Futures
HMRC to report more tax lawyers to regulators in crackdown
Tax lawyers face more reports by HMRC to their regulators and the cloak of legal professional privilege being pierced under government plans unveiled yesterday.
Legal Futures
Ex-law firm owner obtains freezing order against successor
The High Court has issued a freezing order against the non-lawyer owner of a law firm the SRA shut down last year, at the behest of the solicitor who sold it to her.
Legal Futures
HOFA banned for concealing firm's dire finances from SRA
The HOFA of a consumer claims firm that went bust in 2023 concealed its financial difficulties from the SRA in the run-up to its collapse.
Legal Futures
SDT: Solicitor gave undertaking even if he did not call it one
An assurance given by a solicitor in a conveyancing transaction was an undertaking, even if he did not use the word, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has ruled.
Legal Futures
Public would be "shocked" by how credit hire works, says judge
The public would be “shocked” to learn how the credit hire industry operates, a senior district judge has suggested in a case where he had to award £55,000 for an unnecessary 96-day car hire.
Legal Futures
Does the Arbitration Act 2025 achieve its aim?
A key objective of the Arbitration Act 2025 is to increase the efficiency of the process, ensuring the UK is well placed to continue competing in the global dispute resolution market.
Legal Futures
"Outrageous" delays persist for complex probate matters
Improvements in the probate system are not filtering through to complex cases, according to a solicitor who has lodged a complaint over “outrageous” delays she has suffered.
Legal Futures
£86m of client money went through in-house solicitor's personal account
An elderly in-house solicitor who handled reserved legal work without authorisation, and used his personal bank account to process £86m of client money, has agreed to leave the profession.
Legal Futures
Express Solicitors welcomes new senior clinical negligence solicitor
Express Solicitors has strengthened its clinical negligence team with the appointment of Tanzeela Aslam as Partner and deputy head of the department.
Legal Futures
Dye & Durham’s UK practice management solution recognized at the 2024 ILFM Law Firm Software Users Awards
Dye & Durham’s practice management solutions operate under the Insight Legal and Quill brands in the UK
Legal Futures
Embrace AI or risk losing talent: Why tax professionals are demanding change
A new report from Tolley, part of LexisNexis, reveals that a growing number of tax practitioners are feeling the pressure to embrace AI, and they’re not willing to wait around.
Legal Futures
Exclusive: Australian firm eyes major UK expansion with PE backing
An Australian law firm offering SMEs unlimited, on-demand legal services on a subscription basis is set to expand its UK operation after taking private equity investment.
Legal Futures
SRA: Law firm's work for warlord was not improper
The SRA yesterday took the unusual step of setting out why it cleared the law firm which acted for Yevgeniy Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group, of misconduct.
Legal Futures
Paralegal to pay £20k in costs for "hopeless" claim against law firm
A paralegal has been ordered to pay costs of just over £20,000 for bringing a “hopeless and misconceived” employment tribunal claim against a law firm.
Legal Futures
Law firm avoids tribunal referral over PEP due diligence failures
A law firm that failed to conduct proper anti-money laundering checks while acting for a politically exposed person has been fined £25,000.
Legal Futures
Advancements in iManage AI set new standard in delivering smarter, faster, safer legal work
Powerful updates to Ask iManage, Insight+ empower customers to leverage AI in a practical, frictionless, and secure way
Legal Futures
Express Solicitors readies itself for further growth
Personal injury law firm, Express Solicitors has released its statutory accounts for 2024 as it continues to push its aggressive growth strategy and line up more acquisitions.
Legal Futures
A broken system failing vulnerable families
Across the UK, families in need of safe and secure housing are being let down by a system that should be protecting them.
Legal Futures
The five biggest drawbacks of not using legal AI in your law firm
AI isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about improving the quality of legal work, reducing burnout, and enhancing profitability. From legal research to case law summarisation, AI is already proving its value.
Legal Futures
Hoowla case management software introduces API and Webhook integration with Power BI for enhanced data visualisation
Did you know that Hoowla’s API allows you to connect your case management data directly to Microsoft Power BI?
Legal Futures
Law Society research highlights its TA6 failures
The extent of the Law Society’s misjudgement in last year’s launch of the updated TA6 property information form has been laid out by research it commissioned.
Legal Futures
Tribunal clears Daily Mail sting solicitor of misconduct
One of the solicitors accused by the Daily Mail of offering to help an undercover reporter concoct a false asylum claim has been cleared of misconduct.
Legal Futures
In-house solicitor fined for offensive nicknames and emails
A senior in-house solicitor who coined offensive nicknames for colleagues and sent sweary emails has been fined £15,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Legal Futures
AI and data-driven approaches to content marketing for law firms
The legal sector is experiencing a rapid technological shift, with artificial intelligence transforming not just legal practice but also how firms market their services.
Legal Futures
Trump escalates attack on lawyers with disciplinary threat
President Donald Trump’s assault on the legal profession went up a notch on Saturday by ordering action against lawyers who bring "partisan" litigation against the federal government.
Legal Futures
How to manage financial risk with litigation finance
Financial risk is a major challenge for law firms managing a high volume of claims. Litigation is an expensive and lengthy process, with traditional bank funding often unavailable.
Legal Futures
Legal threat to US firm in London over "u-turn on helping trans man"
The Good Law Project is threatening US law firm Morrison Foerster with legal action over its London office “reneging” on an agreement to represent a trans man.
Legal Futures
Whiplash tariff to rise on 31 May but fixed costs review delayed
The 15% uplift in the fixed fees for whiplash cases will take effect from 31 May, the fourth anniversary of the Official Injury Claim portal, justice minister Sarah Sackman has announced.
Legal Futures
Conveyancers warned over amending contracts ahead of SDLT deadline
Conveyancers have been warned over efforts to amend agreed conditions of sale to take into account the possibility of not completing before SDLT changes.
Legal Futures
MR: "Very disappointing" end to court modernisation programme
The court modernisation project ends this month with the “very disappointing” outcome of only 23% of civil cases being digital end to end, the Master of the Rolls told MPs this week.
Legal Futures
Congratulations on your engagement: improving social media performance
Like most marketers I know, I have a love-hate relationship with social media. Love it when it works, hate it when it doesn’t. And it’s a tough nut to crack.
Legal Futures
Ignite Specialty Risk launches litigation insurance products in the EEA
Ignite Specialty Risk, a leading provider of litigation risk insurance, has announced its expansion into the European Economic Area (EEA).
Legal Futures
Holland & Hart drives centralised support team success and enhances collaboration with BigHand Workflow Management
BigHand is excited to share its latest client success story from Holland & Hart LLP, who have streamlined workflows, improved collaboration, and optimized task delegation with BigHand Workflow Management.
Legal Futures
How to master goal setting at a mid-sized law firm
Mid-sized law firms face a unique set of challenges as they grow—balancing increased complexity, limited resources, and the need for structured goal-setting across diverse teams.
Legal Futures
SRA used "prejudicial hearsay evidence" in failed prosecution
The SRA relied on complaints by anonymous people and “a significant amount of prejudicial hearsay evidence” to support a failed prosecution against two high-profile solicitors.
Legal Futures
City giant fined £465k for sanctions breach by Russian arm
The Russian arm of top City firm Herbert Smith Freehills has been fined £465,000 for breaching UK financial sanctions imposed on Russia.
Legal Futures
Sidhu disbarred and attacked for "abusing power to perpetrate abuse"
The case of Jo Sidhu KC – who was disbarred yesterday – “exposes the failure of the current systems to effectively prevent sexual misconduct at the Bar”, Harriet Harman KC said yesterday.
Legal Futures
Beringer: No rules force law firms to take on questionable clients
There are no rules that require law firms to take on clients outside of criminal work and so they need to be willing to justify their choices publicly, the former senior partner of Allen & Overy said this week.
Legal Futures
KC removed from panel hearing challenge to Scottish Bar rules
A Scottish silk has been removed from a Competition Appeal Tribunal panel set to hear a challenge to the rules of the Faculty of Advocates, the Scottish Bar.
Legal Futures
Law firm focus on improving client experience leads to record start to year for client comms app
As law firms prioritise enhancing client experience and delivering a first class service in 2025, the pioneering Access Legal client communications app - powered by inCase has marked the start to the year with a new record set for client sessions in January.
Legal Futures
Litera launches new AI powered features to streamline document creation and combat industry bottlenecks
Litera, a global leader in legal technology, today announced the groundbreaking launch of two major innovations: Litera One and Litera AI+.
Legal Futures
Swansea Legal migrates for new efficiency with Hoowla Case Management Software
The roadshow created a unique, hands-on environment for firms to explore cutting-edge legal technology, and it was here that Swansea Legal was introduced to Hoowla’s cloud-based case management software.
Legal Futures
Anti-corruption champion calls for offence targeting lawyer enablers
The Prime Minister’s anti-corruption champion last night called for a new criminal offence that would see lawyers prosecuted for failing to prevent money laundering and economic crime.
Legal Futures
Top family firm "would be prejudiced" by split trial in negligence claim
Top family law firm Payne Hicks Beach would be prejudiced by a split trial in the negligence action brought by the woman who secured the UK’s largest ever divorce award, the High Court has ruled.
Legal Futures
City solicitor suspended from practice for stalking conviction
A City solicitor found guilty of a low-level offence of stalking his ex-girlfriend has been suspended from the profession for six months.
Legal Futures
Law Society among groups condemning Trump for targeting lawyers
The Law Society is among 18 national and international legal organisations to call on the US government to stop its campaign against lawyers.
Legal Futures
Protecting data during the sale of a law firm
With minds focussed on negotiating the deal and the due diligence bun fight, it is easy for sellers and buyers of law firms to forget that the heart of every law firm transaction is the management of data.
Legal Futures
The rise of consultant lawyers and the future of legal services
Projections suggest that by 2026, one in three UK lawyers could work independently as a consultant lawyer. But what does this shift mean for both firms and lawyers?
Legal Futures
Court allows City giant to progress ex-client's claim on assignment
A major City law firm can continue bringing a case it took on assignment from former clients which could mitigate a possible professional negligence claim.
Legal Futures
Trump attacks "global law firms" as top UK names face DEI probe
President Trump has attacked the role of “global law firms” as 20 top practices – including leading London names – are targeted in the US over DEI employment practices.
Legal Futures
Complaining to the SRA? Don't expect a quick reply
Members of the public and firms reporting concerns to the SRA will have to wait up to two months for a response, twice the time it was at the start of the year.
Legal Futures
Litigation funders continue to pour money into market
Money continues to pour into the litigation finance market, with one expecting to treble its investment to £250m in the next two years and another set to launch a $75m fund.
Legal Futures
Don't be too "seduced" by AI, lawyers warned
Lawyers need to avoid being “so seduced” by what AI can do “that they don’t appreciate what it cannot”, a professional negligence specialist warned last week.
Legal Futures
Female legal team explores options over "sexist" judge
An almost all-female legal team is working out how to challenge a refusal to investigate allegations of intimidating, sexist and discriminatory conduct by a male judge.
Legal Futures
Partner who fabricated documents he gave to SRA struck off
A law firm partner has been struck off for fabricating documents to mislead the SRA about his role in mismanaging a client’s personal injury trust.
Legal Futures
Solicitor who misled firm about client loans fails in strike-off appeal
A solicitor struck off for multiple rule breaches, including that he actively concealed from his employer the fact that he had taken loans from clients, has failed in his appeal.
Legal Futures
A practical approach to handling residual balances
ILFM explores the current SRA rules and guidance, as well as practical approaches for efficiently and proactively managing these balances.
Legal Futures
Winners of 2025 Excellence Awards revealed
Winners of the 18th Land Data Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence were announced at the 2025 Virtual Local Land Charges Training & Development Event.
Legal Futures
AI in the legal profession: how soon will it make an impact?
The extent and speed of AI's integration depend on technological developments, regulatory frameworks and the willingness of lawyers to embrace AI-driven solutions.
Legal Futures
Tribunal sends message over sexual harassment at the Bar
Sexual harassment at the Bar that “might have been tolerated and even expected in the past is no longer acceptable”, a disciplinary tribunal has said – but “regrettably, such behaviour is still widespread”.
Legal Futures
Lawyer groups back stronger regulation of litigation funding
The Law Society, Bar Council, CILEX and the Association of Costs Lawyers have become the latest to call for stronger oversight of third-party litigation funding.
Legal Futures
Accountants set to start administering oaths
Chartered accountants are finally to get the right to conduct the reserved legal activity of administering oaths, six years after their regulator gained the power to grant it.
Legal Futures
Reynolds corrects official record over calling himself a solicitor
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has officially corrected the House of Commons record for describing himself as a solicitor, amid continuing jabs from the Conservatives.
Legal Futures
Government commits to continuing lawtech push
The government has agreed to continue funding LawtechUK for the next year, committing £1.5m to support greater use of AI and other technology in legal services.
Legal Futures
Acclaimed Swiss law firm Homburger AG moves to iManage Cloud
iManage today announced that Zurich-based Swiss law firm Homburger AG will be transitioning from an on-premises deployment of iManage to iManage Cloud.
Legal Futures
Charles Russell Speechlys boosts legal support efficiency and cuts turnaround times with BigHand Workflow Management
BigHand is proud to share it’s latest client success story from Charles Russell Speechlys – a Top 40 international law firm that has transformed its internal workflows with BigHand Workflow Management.
Legal Futures
Clio accelerates global expansion with strategic acquisition of ShareDo, enters enterprise legal market
Clio, a global leader in cloud-based legal technology, has acquired ShareDo, a UK-based provider of cloud-based enterprise software for large law firms
Legal Futures
London office of top US firm fined £300k for AML failures
A leading US law firm has been fined £300,000 for failing to have anti-money laundering risk assessments and procedures in place in its London office.
Legal Futures
Lawyers worried by over-reliance on SRA discretion post Dentons
Specialist regulatory lawyers have expressed concern that the High Court ruling in the Dentons case places too much reliance on the SRA's view of the seriousness of rule breaches.
Legal Futures
CLC deprecates "apology" by disqualified conveyancer
Disqualified licensed conveyancer Lloyd Davies did not “accurately” reflect the agreed facts of his case in his public statement about it, his regulator said yesterday in an unusual move.
Legal Futures
Judge temporarily blocks Trump order targeting Clinton's lawyers
A judge has issued a temporary block on an executive order from President Donald Trump targeting the major law firm that acted for Hillary Clinton.
Legal Futures
How Express Solicitors embodies excellence in equality, diversity and inclusion
At Express Solicitors, we’ve long believed that fostering an inclusive culture and promoting equal opportunities are essential not just for our team but for the legal profession as a whole.
Legal Futures
Lead management is a concern for a third of marketing, research reveals
According to new research, one in three marketers struggle to follow up leads properly, while almost half (43%) say they cannot qualify leads effectively due to difficulty obtaining detailed information.
Legal Futures
Why now is the right time for mentoring in lawtech
Having previously been perceived as the poor relation to fintech, lawtech in 2025 is enjoying the huge attention it is now attracting, with recent headlines describing this moment as its ‘Golden Age’.
Legal Futures
Court: Solicitors' breaches of AML rules "strict liability offences"
Breaches of AML rules are effectively strict liability offences and the SRA does not need to show severity to prove misconduct, the High Court ruled yesterday.
Legal Futures
"Clear evidence" that solicitor apprenticeships aid social mobility
There is now “clear evidence” that solicitor apprenticeships are facilitating social mobility, analysis by the Solicitors Regulation Authority has shown.
Legal Futures
Costs judge allows £700 an hour in biggest departure from guidelines
A costs judge has allowed a leading US law firm to recover partner costs at £700 per hour, said to be the largest ever departure from the guideline hourly rates.
Legal Futures
AI will allow conveyancers "to resume role of trusted advisors"
Artificial intelligence will not mark the end of the traditional conveyancer and will instead put them back into their old trusted advisor role, a roundtable has heard.
Legal Futures
New PEPs and sanctions and conflicts of interest courses released to help law firms manage compliance training and quality standards
To support law firms and legal professionals in maintaining their AML training and compliance to the SRA’s latest standards, Access Legal launches key updates to its PEPs and Sanctions and Conflicts of Interest courses.
Legal Futures
Simple, straightforward, but never standard: Introducing Landmark's remastered commercial reports
The commercial property market is a fast-paced and complex sector that demands precision, clarity, and actionable environmental due diligence powered by expert knowledge.
Legal Futures
iManage accelerates into 2025 with strong growth, AI advancements, and cloud expansion
Continued innovation across the entire product portfolio delivers practical solutions that help knowledge workers achieve meaningful business outcomes
Legal Futures
Podcast highlights three ways that law firms can drive organic growth
In episode 14 of the Empowering Law Firm Leaders podcast, Amy Bruce discusses with Joanna Gaudoin how law firms can accelerate their business development skills to drive organic growth
Legal Futures
SRA's Philip says retirement plan predated Axiom Ince
The retirement of SRA chief executive Paul Philip has nothing to do with the Axiom Ince scandal, he has emphasised. Meanwhile, the chair of the BSB is stepping down too.
Legal Futures
How National Claims boosts medical negligence processes
Medical negligence claims are among the most complex cases in the legal world, requiring careful vetting, strong evidence, and an in-depth understanding of industry practices.
Legal Futures
Solicitor cannot base victimisation claim on firm's report to SRA
A solicitor cannot base a victimisation claim against her law firm at the employment tribunal on it reporting her to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, a judge has ruled.
Legal Futures
City law firm takes action over "anti-Islam" HR advisor
City law firm CMS has taken “decisive action” after learning that a senior member of its HR team, a prospective Reform UK councillor, posted anti-Islamic and anti-transgender comments on X.
Legal Futures
Investment in UK lawtech hit £140m last year
Last year saw UK lawtech companies raise £140m in funding as they attracted more investors in the UK and internationally than ever before, according to a new report.
Legal Futures
SOS Legal and Linetime unite to enhance enterprise law firm solutions
Leading providers of legal practice management software, SOS Legal and Linetime, have recently joined forces, bringing together two of the legal technology industry’s most trusted providers under the single SOS brand.
Legal Futures
Land Data awards NLIS channel licence to Wessex Searches
Land Data has awarded an NLIS channel licence to Wessex Searches. The new licence will mean faster turnarounds on conveyancing searches for home movers.
Legal Futures
Thousands of privileged documents disclosed in "unprecedented" error
An “extraordinary” and “unprecedented” failure of disclosure that has seen thousands of privileged documents released to the other side has been revealed in the High Court.
Legal Futures
Firm and two partners fined £50k for offering banking facility
A law firm and two of its partners have been fined nearly £50,000 between them for allowing two wealthy clients to use its client account as a banking facility.
Legal Futures
Black barristers face a "concrete ceiling", says BBN chair
The focus on access to the Bar in EDI efforts is “low-hanging fruit” that ignores the bigger problem of progression, the chair of the Black Barristers Network said last week.
Legal Futures
Judge throws out skeleton argument for being three times too long
The High Court has refused to admit a skeleton argument that was three times the length it should have been, and ranged beyond the confines of what it should have done.
Legal Futures
Digital marketing for law firms in 2025
While some of your existing marketing tactics will continue to work, the online space you are targeting is bound to some serious change, so it’s up to you to follow these trends.
Legal Futures
2025: A transformative year for the UK property market
The UK property market is poised for significant changes in 2025, with new legislation and reforms set to reshape the landscape for landlords, tenants, homeowners, estate agents, and conveyancers alike.
Legal Futures
Four ways that law firms can improve cashflow and realise their competitive advantage
Simon McCrum, of McCrum Management Consultancy, joined Amy on the Empowering Law Firm Leaders podcast, to discuss how legal leaders can deliver excellent client service that they can charge more for.
Legal Futures
MP: SRA needs to be empowered to crack down on lawfare
There is a “clear consensus” in Parliament that the SRA must “feel empowered” to crack down on instances of ‘lawfare’, an MP said yesterday.
Legal Futures
High-profile conveyancer "transferring shares" post-disqualification
Lloyd Davies, the high-profile licensed conveyancer who has been permanently disqualified, is now in the process of transferring his shares in his firm, it has confirmed.
Legal Futures
Government seeks power to provide legal advice in employment disputes
A power for the government to provide legal advice and representation to anyone involved in an employment dispute has been proposed for the Employment Rights Bill.
Legal Futures
Campaigners call for single supervisor of legal sector's AML activities
Only a single body policing anti-money laundering supervision across the UK legal sector will deliver “the step change in effectiveness that is needed”, a campaign group has argued.
Legal Futures
High Court reinstates negligence claim against top family law firm
A former client of a leading family law firm should be allowed to sue over its alleged failure to advise about its own negligence, the High Court has ruled.
Legal Futures
IHT planning masterclass: Trusts vs family investment companies
Are you keen to expand your knowledge beyond legal issues? We offer solicitors free access to our monthly webinars, where industry experts explore a range of topics related to financial services.
Legal Futures
AI in claims management: Help or hindrance?
There’s a lot of talk about artificial intelligence in the claims management industry. Will it revolutionise the sector, or is it simply a tool to make processes a little easier?
Legal Futures
LSB tells regulators to improve lawyers' ethical standards
New requirements on legal regulators to strengthen ethical standards from the start of lawyers’ careers have been proposed today.
Legal Futures
Client account interest drives rising profits at SME law firms
Almost all of the 21% increase in profits per partner seen by SME law firms last year came from client account interest and they need to “wean themselves off” it, a Law Society report has warned.
Legal Futures
Regional mergers and another PE-backed deal in latest M&A
The private equity owned Fletchers Group made another acquisition yesterday, while a merger is set to create a 500-person firm operating in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
Legal Futures
Barrister who harassed woman at party suspended for three months
A male barrister who harassed a woman at his chambers’ Christmas party both physically and verbally has been suspended from practice for three months.
Legal Futures
Hughes Parry Solicitors have transitioned their legal accounts to Hoowla Case Management Software
When the firm decided to adopt Hoowla's case management software, they took a thoughtful and strategic approach to its implementation.
Legal Futures
Thousands of motor finance claims can be brought via omnibus forms
The High Court has overturned a ruling that 5,823 people with motor finance commission claims have to file individual claims, rather than sue via eight omnibus claim forms.
Legal Futures
City solicitors hit out at SRA's "instinct to overregulate"
The SRA's plans to reform consumer protection arrangements demonstrate its instinct to “overregulate” the profession, City solicitors have claimed.
Legal Futures
Litigation funder awarded £2.1m on assigned claim
A litigation funder that took assignment of an inventor’s claim that his idea was ripped off by early stage investors has been awarded £2.15m in damages.
Legal Futures
Solicitor's joy as miscarriage campaign set to succeed
A solicitor campaigning for statutory leave for those suffering baby loss says she has been “crying my eyes out with tears of happiness” after learning the government is to change the law.
Legal Futures
Responsible use of AI: experts urge law firms to prioritise AI governance with vetted tools
Legal industry experts are advising law firms to approach AI responsibly with good data hygiene, vetting AI tools ahead of adoption and preparing for potential regulations, at the top of their AI checklist.
Legal Futures
Forms, missed opportunities and faster options
You’ve done your research, filled in an enquiry form on a business website and explained what you need, and then…. well, nothing. No follow-up call. No email response. Zero. Zilch.
Legal Futures
Why don’t lower volumes mean faster property transactions?
In 2024, we witnessed steady but consistently lower transaction volumes. That begs the question: Why don’t lower volumes mean faster transactions? Our latest Property Transactions Report seeks to find out.
Legal Futures
High-profile conveyancer disqualified for misleading 300 students
A high-profile licensed conveyancer has been thrown out of the profession for not telling 300 apprentices and students that his training academy had lost its official accreditation.
Legal Futures
Listed law firm makes 23rd and biggest acquisition to date
National firm Knights yesterday announced its 23rd and biggest acquisition since listing nearly seven years with a £30m deal for South-East practice IBB Law.
Legal Futures
Fee-earner banned for misleading firm over Law Society accreditation
A fee-earner has been banned for misleading her firm into thinking that her membership of the Law Society's mental health accreditation scheme had been renewed.
Legal Futures
Will AI replace lawyers or enhance their work?
AI offers a powerful opportunity to optimise legal work, reduce administrative burdens and improve efficiency. But concerns about taking lawyers' jobs is a barrier to adoption.
Legal Futures
Claimant firms at odds as judge refuses group order for £18bn PPI case
A circuit judge has refused to make a group litigation order in relation to thousands of Plevin claims brought by one class action law firm, a move competitors had opposed.
Legal Futures
"Disruptive" solicitor ordered to pay SRA costs of £20,000
A solicitor has been ordered to pay the SRA £20,000 in costs for his “unreasonable and indeed vexatious and disruptive conduct” of litigation against it.
Legal Futures
Two firms rebuked for residual balances as charity launches campaign
Two law firms that between them retained £425,000 of client money for many years have been rebuked as charity Support Through Court called on solicitors to donate small residual balances.
Legal Futures
LSB chair steps down less than halfway through term
The chair of the Legal Services Board, Alan Kershaw, has stood down from the role less than halfway through his term, citing personal considerations.
Legal Futures
Cole Scott & Kissane streamlines financial reporting to drive efficiencies with BigHand Business Intelligence
In the legal industry, where time and precision are paramount, streamlined financial reporting can revolutionize operations.
Legal Futures
The importance of future proofing your firm – and how a digital first mindset can achieve long-term success
The penultimate episode of series three of the Build Better Habits webinar series explored the mindset of thinking digital-first and shared best practices for future-proofing your law firm.
Legal Futures
Top judge urges compulsory adjudication for costs disputes
Costs disputes worth more than £100,000 should be subject to compulsory adjudication, the judge who leads on costs issues in the Court of Appeal has said.
Legal Futures
SRA moves closer to SSB Law prosecutions
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has completed its investigation into the collapse of SSB Law and issued disciplinary notices to “a number of individuals”.
Legal Futures
"Time to review" selection and return to practice of salaried judges
A report for the Ministry of Justice has called for a review of the selection process used by the Judicial Appointments Commission for salaried judges.
Legal Futures
ABS expansion as accountants start to offer legal services in the US
Multi-disciplinary practices are becoming a reality in the US after KPMG was granted an ABS licence and another accountancy firm announced plans to merge with a law firm.
Legal Futures
Land Registry system will reject applications with "simple" errors
HM Land Registry is to up efforts to reduce the number of requisitions it has to send to conveyancers by automatically checking for “simple errors” in applications.
Legal Futures
How to build a legal project management team
Measured client benefit is the ultimate test of any innovative decision, and projects supported by our LPM team are proven to show increased efficiency and client satisfaction.
Legal Futures
Legal industry struggling to deliver seamless payment experiences, new research reveals
Recent research has shown that businesses in the legal industry are struggling to provide seamless payment experiences, with the sector encountering substantial gaps that threaten customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Legal Futures
Paul Philip to retire as SRA chief executive
Paul Philip is to retire from the Solicitors Regulation Authority towards the end of 2025 after nearly 12 years as chief executive, it announced this morning.
Legal Futures
Private equity invests £1.2bn in the law in just five years
Private equity has invested nearly £1.2bn into law firms over the last five years, with a record £534m coming last year, according to figures published today.
Legal Futures
LSB: Litigation funding should be regulated by FCA
There should be mandatory regulation of the litigation funding industry by the Financial Conduct Authority, the director of regulation and policy at the Legal Services Board said yesterday.
Legal Futures
“Time to act” on scrapping client accounts, consumer panel says
Now is the time for the SRA to take “decisive steps” towards scrapping solicitors’ client accounts, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has said.
Legal Futures
Listed law firm needs more growth "to justify premium valuation"
Listed law firm Keystone needs to deliver double-digital growth if it is to maintain a premium valuation, but it is unlikely to do so, its broker has said.
Legal Futures
How should professionals services firms be investing in marketing and BD in 2025 and beyond?
The Law Firm Marketing Club (LFMC) is once again inviting professional services firms, including law and accountancy practices across the UK, to participate in this year’s Professional Services Marketing Survey.
Legal Futures
Majority of professional indemnity claims are against solicitors
More than half of professional indemnity cases issued in the High Court over the past five years were against solicitors, according to new figures.
Legal Futures
Law firm's partnership agreement was not varied, High Court rules
Two former partners of a law firm did not vary their 50/50 partnership after it was set up so that one would be in sole control, the High Court has ruled.
Legal Futures
Reynolds: Errors over calling myself a solicitor "not a huge deal"
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has apologised for referring to himself as a solicitor but said it was not “a huge deal”, as Reform UK pledged to bring a private prosecution against him.
Legal Futures
Three-quarters of judges report stress symptoms
Three-quarters of salaried judges report symptoms of stress, while a third of circuit judges are under “high or extreme stress”, the latest Judicial Attitude Survey has found.
Legal Futures
The spectrum of vulnerability
Identifying and supporting clients who are vulnerable or in vulnerable circumstances is exceptionally important and for some time been a clear focus of the FCA and SRA.
Legal Futures
Law firm partner forced to retire at 63 wins discrimination claim
Well-known Leeds law firm Walker Morris discriminated against a senior partner by making him retire at the age of 63, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Legal Futures
Law firm ordered to pay wasted costs after failing to instruct counsel
A law firm was negligent in failing to prepare for a three-day hearing or instruct counsel for it, a Family Court judge has ruled in making a wasted costs order.
Legal Futures
Probate staff “did not understand” digital processes, minister admits
HMCTS “did not have a mechanism to deliver comprehensive training” when the Probate Service was digitised, a justice minister has admitted.
Legal Futures
"Keeping us ahead of the world" - Arbitration Act receives Royal Assent
The Arbitration Act received Royal Assent yesterday, with the government declaring it would keep the UK “ahead of the rest” and practitioners welcoming the new law.
Legal Futures
Law firm's bid to restrain winding-up petition in doubt
The High Court is to reconsider its intention to allow a Manchester law firm to restrain a claims provider from presenting a winding-up petition.
Legal Futures
Solicitor took on mis-selling claims "without understanding them"
A solicitor has been fined for letting her firm run mortgage mis-selling claims when she had “no experience or expertise” and made multiple errors as a result.
Legal Futures
Tribunal approves landmark £200m Mastercard settlement
The Competition Appeal Tribunal last week approved the £200m settlement of former solicitor Walter Merricks with Mastercard, in a case once valued at £14bn.
Legal Futures
Barristers win 25% increase in rates for government work
Barristers doing government work will see a 25% increase in rates from 1 April, in some cases the first rise since the panels were first introduced in 1997.
Legal Futures
SRA reopens case of business secretary calling himself a solicitor
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has reopened its investigation into business secretary Jonathan Reynolds describing himself as a solicitor.
Legal Futures
The Solicitors PII market in 2024
2024 was a positive year from an Insurance buyers perspective, we witnessed a further dilution in respect of Insurers rate, and this accelerated as the year progressed.
Legal Futures
London’s social housing crisis: A growing emergency
Research by National Claims shows the social housing crisis has grown exponentially, with some councils witnessing a staggering 10,000% increase in housing disrepair claims over the past five years.
Legal Futures
Number of PI law firms drops a third in five years
The number of personal injury law firms has shrunk by more than a third in just five years, according to research which also found a “significant untapped market”.
Legal Futures
Regulatory action against Post Office lawyers "could start this summer"
Both solicitors and barristers involved in the Post Office scandal could start to face disciplinary action by this summer, their regulators have declared.
Legal Futures
First unsuccessful opt-out class rep to pay £14m in interim costs
The unsuccessful claimant in the first opt-out collective action decided by the Competition Appeal Tribunal has been ordered to make an interim costs payment of £14m.
Legal Futures
Many divorcees do not understand the law - even if they had a lawyer
“Substantial proportions” of divorcees do not understand the law on how assets are split, even if they used a lawyer, the first research of its kind has found.
Legal Futures
Family mediator accreditation: can we simplify the process?
For family mediation week in January, the Family Mediation Council suggested making a pledge. Mine was to the FMC itself: to make the accreditation process more straightforward.
Legal Futures
Brabners surpasses £50m revenue milestone as it delivers on purpose-led growth plan
Purpose-led independent law firm Brabners has secured another year of significant organic growth having completed its latest three-year strategy.
Legal Futures
Lawyers impatient for firms to invest in technology and innovation
Clients need their firms to be fast, cost-effective and agile. However, nearly 1 in 2 lawyers said their firm is slow or very slow at implementing new technology.
Legal Futures
UK Retention Deposit Scheme: A guide for lawyers
In the wake of ISG’s collapse in 2024, the team at dospay launched the Retention Protection Pledge. With over 20 signatories in the first few weeks of existence, it was clear that more was needed.
Legal Futures
Bishopsgate Law senior paralegal wins two-week trip to Australia
Lucy O’Brien, senior paralegal from Bishopsgate Law is thrilled to have won InfoTrack’s 7th Annual “Take Me To Australia” promotion.
Legal Futures
Building the homes of the future amid ambitious targets
Landmark’s latest report discusses the developer’s view on national housebuilding targets, biodiversity net gain (BNG), and the roll-out of the Future Homes Standard
Legal Futures
Time for a change? How integrating digital is the way forward for law firms
Perfect Portal helps you exceed your clients' expectations and win more business. Read our customer's story to see how Perfect Portal changed the way they work.
Legal Futures
SRA report calls for major shift in lawyers’ approach to vulnerability
There should be a “fundamental alteration” in the way the legal sector approaches consumer vulnerability, taking an opt-out, rather than opt-in, approach, a study for the SRA has argued.
Legal Futures
"Deeply caring" solicitor urged to reflect on professional boundaries
A solicitor has been urged to use a six-month suspension to separate his legal work from the counselling support he provides to sex offender clients, after mixing them led to rule breaches.
Legal Futures
SRA must avoid “overzealous” approach to economic crime rules
The new statutory duty on lawyers to promote the “prevention and detection of economic crime” must not trigger an “over-zealous” response by the SRA, the Law Society has warned.
Legal Futures
Call for new anti-SLAPP mechanism after “false dawn”
There needs to be a new early disposal mechanism for SLAPPs, academics have said, describing existing anti-SLAPP provisions as “a false dawn that will not address the problem”.
Legal Futures
Will organic rankings become the small print of digital marketing?
Since the launch of Google, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) has been a cornerstone of digital marketing and online business generation for law firms.
Legal Futures
Solicitor struck off for LPA dishonesty after 50 years on roll
A solicitor has been struck off after more than 50 years on the roll after admitting dishonesty over the signing of a lasting power of attorney.
Legal Futures
Law firms set to enjoy second year of good PII market
The cost of professional indemnity insurance for many law firms fell last year, and there are positive signs for renewal in 2025 too, a leading broker has declared.
Legal Futures
Law Society: “Huge adverse impact” from scrapping client accounts
Restricting or banning law firms from holding client money would be “unwarranted” and “undoubtedly have a huge adverse impact on the reputation of the profession”, the Law Society has warned.
Legal Futures
Can data solve the growing employment claims conundrum?
The number of employment law claims being lodged in the UK is on the rise, and both employers and the tribunal system are finding it challenging to cope.
Legal Futures
Law firm invests in agentic AI startup after testing tools
An agentic AI start-up which aims to transform the way in-house legal teams handle high-volume work has attracted “significant” investment from London law firm Mishcon de Reya.
Legal Futures
Cyber security awareness for law firm leaders
Over the last decade the cyber security landscape has changed significantly, towards more targeted and sophisticated attacks on small and medium-sized enterprises.
Legal Futures
Ignite Specialty Risk names Ankit Patel as U.S. Head of Intellectual Property Underwriting
Seasoned IP and Legal Risk Expert Joins from Liberty Mutual to Drive Innovation and Excellence in Litigation Risk Coverage Solutions
Legal Futures
Express Solicitors and RBS continue partnership doubling revolving credit agreement to £16m
Manchester-based personal injury law firm, Express Solicitors, has had its revolving credit agreement with The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) renewed and doubled, so it’s now worth £16m.
Legal Futures
Legal copywriting top tips, from a law firm digital marketing agency
For most of your clients, the copy on your website is the first time they’ll hear your firm’s “voice”.
Legal Futures
Supreme Court refuses Treasury intervention in motor finance case
Claimant lawyers yesterday celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision to reject HM Treasury’s bid to intervene in the motor finance appeal.
Legal Futures
"You don't have to start nude," said barrister photographer
The barrister and amateur photographer suspended for two years for a conversation with a woman about modelling told her she did not have to start with nude pictures.
Legal Futures
Plexus Legal administrators charge more than double original estimate
The administrators of Plexus Legal have now racked up more than £650,000 in fees in less than 18 months, more than twice their original estimate.
Legal Futures
SRA waives £120k fine of law firm now in administration
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has waived a £120,000 fine it intended to levy on a law firm because it has now gone into administration.
Legal Futures
Listed firm to wind down after failing to find administrators
Listed legal business RBG Holdings is to be wound down after failing to appoint an administrator, it announced to the London Stock Exchange this morning.
Legal Futures
Local law societies condemn SRA plans for client money
The SRA's plans to reform consumer protection arrangements are disproportionate, risk undermining public confidence and will not work, the five largest local law societies have warned.
Legal Futures
Court rejects divorcing husband's conflict claim against solicitors
The Family Court has rejected a divorcing husband’s claim that his wife’s solicitors are conflicted out of acting for her because of past work they did for the couple.
Legal Futures
Probate Service waiting times fall by 60% in 13 months
The Probate Service seems to have finally overcome its backlog, with average wait times in December 2024 now six and half weeks, compared to nearly 16 weeks a year earlier.
Legal Futures
Residual balances – why now again?
Residual balances have been on the SRA’s radar for several years and seen as potentially a material breach, so why include them in a questionnaire about accountant's reports?
Legal Futures
Discover how law firms' success is shaped on innovation and failure
The latest episode of Osprey Approach’s popular podcast series, Empowering Law Firm Leaders, is available now to watch and listen for free
Legal Futures
Shortlists for top Local Land Charges teams in England and Wales announced
Local Land Charges (LLC) teams have been recognised in 9 shortlists for the annual Land Data Local Land Charges Awards for Excellence
Legal Futures
Fined solicitor had "implacable belief" in his AML knowledge
An experienced solicitor who had an “implacable belief that he was right” and so did not think he needed to check anti-money laundering rules has been fined £45,000 for breaching them.
Legal Futures
Suspended barrister warns over "innocent conversations about hobbies"
The barrister suspended for two years after showing his photography website to a woman and offering to take unclothed photos of her has said it was “an innocent discussion”.
Legal Futures
Barrister and law centre cleared of giving negligent advice
A barrister was not negligent in his advice over possession proceedings and the law centre that instructed him was entitled to rely on his expertise, the High Court has ruled.
Legal Futures
Escrow accounts vs. Third-Party Managed Accounts
Law firms and their clients often encounter two distinct financial arrangements: escrow accounts and Third-Party Managed Accounts (TPMAs).
Legal Futures
Barrister attacks legal directory's "secret soundings"
A high-profile barrister has attacked “secret soundings” taken by a leading legal directory after discovering she had been bad-mouthed behind her back.
Legal Futures
Law firm plays down BBC story on restricting AI use
Commercial law firm Hill Dickinson has played down a BBC report that it has blocked general access to several AI tools after it found a "significant increase in usage" by staff.
Legal Futures
'Axiom Ince Five' set to face trial in February 2027
The five men charged by the Serious Fraud Office with various offences following the collapse of Axiom Ince will stand trial in February 2027.
Legal Futures
Three key ingredients for running a successful law firm
Have you considered a ‘pre-mortem’, which involves planning for potential failures by identifying everything that could go wrong and working backwards to prevent those issues?
Legal Futures
Brabners delivers third consecutive year of dealmaking growth
The corporate team at purpose-led independent law firm Brabners has seen its dealmaking activity grow by almost a third in the past year, as it continues to support a broad range of national and international clients across the full business lifecycle.
Legal Futures
Strengthening cyber security in law firms with Managed Device Solutions
Law firms aren't just places where legal advice is given—they store valuable and sensitive client information.
Legal Futures
Legal LinkedIn users report trolling and "sexual comments"
Two-thirds of legal LinkedIn users received harassing, negative or ‘troll’ messages or comments, with 35% receiving “sexual comments” on the platform.
Legal Futures
Two-year suspension for barrister's inappropriate comments at court
An experienced barrister has been suspended for two years over inappropriate comments and behaviour of a sexual nature while at court.
Legal Futures
Businessman seeks injunction to stop publication of lawyer's letter
Green industrialist Dale Vince is seeking an injunction to stop a Conservative peer he is suing for libel from publishing his lawyer’s response to the letter before action on the grounds that it too is defamatory.
Legal Futures
JAC explores adding disability to 'equal merit' tie-breaker
The Judicial Appointments Commission is actively exploring whether disability could be added to the ‘equal merit’ approach to the selection of judges, its vice-chair said this week.
Legal Futures
Exclusive: Motor finance case solicitors hit out at Treasury intervention
The government’s bid to intervene in the Supreme Court hearing on the motor finance appeals breaches the constitutional separation of powers, solicitors for two of the claimants have argued.
Legal Futures
Rescinding £32.5m house sale "will not change conveyancing"
The High Court has rejected the argument that its decision to order recission of a £32.5m house sale because of the presence of clothes moths will cause conveyancers problems.
Legal Futures
Legal Services Board has “duty to act” on profession's diversity
The Legal Services Board not only has “the right to act” to improve diversity in the legal profession, but is under “a duty to act”, its new chief executive has said.
Legal Futures
Civil servant takes chair of Digital Property Market Steering Group
A senior civil servant has taken over as chair of the Digital Property Market Steering Group amid the positive response to the announcement of plans to digitise the home-buying process.
Legal Futures
The morality of the Treasury’s intervention in the motor finance appeals
By Esmaeil Momeni, litigation team lead solicitor, and Ovye Affi, a solicitor, at Manchester firm Consumer Rights Solicitors, which acts on two of the
Legal Futures
Choose the right social media platforms for your business
Two-thirds of the world’s population are on it for almost two-and-a-half hours each day, on average. Each uses at least half a dozen different platforms every month.
Legal Futures
Unlocking your firm’s potential with SOS Legal’s Health Check Surveys
SOS Legal has introduced an innovative solution that they provide their client: the SOS Health Check Survey.
Legal Futures
Adapting to the SRA’s changing landscape
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been clear: the legal sector must adapt to the ever-evolving standards of due diligence, particularly in claims management and insurance.
Legal Futures
Only 11% of law firms "likely to pay" new FOS complaint fee
Only one in 10 law firms handling financial services mis-selling matters will have to pay the new £250 case fee to the Financial Ombudsman Service, it has estimated.
Legal Futures
BSB chief: Barristers must be "circumspect" in exercising free speech
Barristers must be “circumspect” in exercising their free speech when speaking about controversial matters, the director general of the Bar Standards Board has said.
Legal Futures
Government commits to digitising home-buying process
The government yesterday pledged to bring the home-buying process “into the digital age” by opening up property information so it can be shared between all those involved in a transaction.
Legal Futures
Court readiness will not drive Renter's Rights Bill, says minister
The government will not tie implementation of the Renter’s Rights Bill will “what could be a subjective assessment of court readiness”, a minister said last week.
Legal Futures
Ignite Specialty Risk appoints Matthew Evans to growing team
Ignite Specialty Risk, a leading provider of litigation risk insurance, has appointed Matthew Evans as Litigation Portfolio Manager.
Legal Futures
Partner struck off for misleading clients about state of claim
A partner who misled his clients for two years about the status of their claim – leading them to believe it had been issued when it had not been – has been struck off.
Legal Futures
Law firms need to prepare for different demands of Gen Z lawyers
Law firms need to start adapting to the concerns and motivations of ‘Gen Z’ as they begin to enter the workplace, an International Bar Association report has warned.
Legal Futures
Stress and anxiety to the fore in LawCare's busiest year yet
More than 1,000 people reached out to lawyer healthcare charity LawCare in 2024, the busiest year in its 25-year existence, with stress and anxiety the main cause.
Legal Futures
“No need” for stricter rules on litigation funding
There is “no need” for stricter regulation of third-party litigation in the EU, an umbrella group of 44 consumer organisations in both Europe and the UK has said.
Legal Futures
Enhancing efficiency and elevating client satisfaction: Fosters ‘revolutionises’ its operations with Access Legal case management
One of the UK’s longest running law firms, Fosters Solicitors, has modernised its operations by switching to Access Legal Case Management - a pivotal moment in its strategy to enhance efficiency and elevate client satisfaction through digital transformation.
Legal Futures
Litera acquires innovative legal workflow provider Peppermint Technology
The combined Litera and Peppermint Technology offering will transform the legal experience directly within Microsoft applications, adding marketing, business development, and other workflows to Litera’s experience management offering
Legal Futures
HMRC transaction data for December points to strong spring market in 2025
Search Acumen (property data insight and technology provider) comments on HMRC’s property transaction data for December 2024
Legal Futures
"Unacceptable" for actor's lawyers to allege evidence fabrication
It was “unacceptable” for lawyers representing the actor Noel Clarke to allege The Guardian newspaper fabricated evidence in defending his libel claim, the High Court has ruled.
Legal Futures
Trainee solicitor "should have known tribunal time limits"
A trainee solicitor’s employment tribunal claims have been thrown out because he gave no credible reason for why they were issued out of time.
Legal Futures
Axing apprenticeship funding “a disaster for the legal profession”
Scrapping government funding for Level 7 apprenticeships would be “a disaster for the legal profession and have a highly negative impact on social mobility and diversity”.
Legal Futures
City law firm puts focus on helping clients use AI
A City law firm is putting a focus on “helping clients understand the potential” of AI, with a new tool which acts as a “custom-built AI layer” for them.
Legal Futures
Managing risk: a guide for law firms
Traditional risk management approaches typically focused on responding to incidents after they have occurred. Best practice today demands a more forward-thinking approach.
Legal Futures
LGA Head of Research & Information, Juliet Whitworth, joins Land Data Board
Land Data today welcomes a new member to its Board: Juliet Whitworth is Head of Research and Information at the Local Government Association.
Legal Futures
Could green retrofits hold the key to upgrading the UK’s housing and office stock?
In our latest report, Reflections and predictions for sustainability in the property sector in 2025, Landmark discussed decarbonisation, transitioning to sustainable offices and the need to retrofit to meet demand, and the shift from targets to reporting on progress.
Legal Futures
The benefits of litigation funding for law firms
Fenchurch Legal look at litigation funding in the smaller consumer claims market and highlight the benefits for law firms managing high-volume, low-value claims.
Legal Futures
SRA-compliant record keeping: essential tips for legal finance teams
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) maintains strict requirements for financial record keeping within law firms. Understanding and implementing these requirements is not merely a regulatory obligation—it's fundamental to maintaining client trust and protecting your firm's reputation.
Legal Futures
Top trends for 2025 and how to get ahead
Looking ahead at this year, we delve into the biggest trends for the legal sector and how they can be best navigated to build a successful 2025.
Legal Futures
Law firms switch indemnity insurers in “more plentiful” market
The proportion of law firms switching insurer for lower premiums at last year’s October renewal rose significantly with capacity “much more plentiful”, with good signs for this year too.
Legal Futures
LeO halves amount of time that staff need to be in office
The Legal Ombudsman is bucking the wider trend of requiring staff to spend more time in the office and is instead halving it to the equivalent of one day a week.
Legal Futures
Carr floats formal mediation council for civil and commercial work
The Lady Chief Justice has suggested that a new mediation council should be set up for civil and commercial matters to bolster England and Wales's status as a leading international mediation centre.
Legal Futures
Law Society and Bar Council attack LSB’s “huge” budget hike
The Law Society and the Bar Council have strongly attacked plans by the Legal Services Board to increase its budget by 14% to over £6m for the year ahead.
Legal Futures
Solicitor "cannot complain" to JCIO about judge's criticism
The High Court has rejected a solicitor and his client’s bid to challenge the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office’s refusal to entertain their complaints about three Court of Appeal judges.
Legal Futures
SRA issues sanctions for breaches of undertakings
The SRA yesterday handed out a fine and a rebuke for breaching undertakings, one relating to property transactions and the other to a divorce matter.
Legal Futures
Third bolt-on acquisition for private equity-backed law firm
East Midlands law firm Nelsons has completed its third local acquisition, in the wake of its private equity owner adding another regional practice to its network.
Legal Futures
BSB: No need for “anxiety” over barrister training standards
The evidence “does not support anxiety about standards” for qualifying as a barrister, despite rising numbers seeking to do so, the Bar Standards Board has said.
Legal Futures
PE-backed Lawfront expands to South-East with latest acquisition
Private equity-backed Lawfront has made its fifth major acquisition and expanded to the South-East by acquiring Kent firm Brachers.
Legal Futures
Lawyers and regulators oppose 10% rise in LeO's budget
The profession has come out strongly against Legal Ombudsman plans for a 10% budget hike, arguing that throwing more money at it has not worked to date.
Legal Futures
Director and law firm fined £50,000 for multiple compliance failures
The director of a law firm and the firm itself have each been fined £25,000 for a series of compliance failures, including widespread accounts rule breaches and anti-money laundering shortcomings.
Legal Futures
CMC regulator warns about poor service standards
The regulator of CMCs has highlighted poor service standards, inappropriate sourcing of customers and misleading advertising as among its key areas of concern.
Legal Futures
Legal tech in 2025: Data, data and more data management
Even the staunchest sceptics are now recognising that generative AI is here to stay. But was 2024 the year that the AI ‘hype bubble’ burst?
Legal Futures
Rosenblatt cries freedom as he reclaims firm from listed business
The break-up of listed legal business RBG Holdings was confirmed today after Ian Rosenblatt celebrated taking back control of the law firm at the heart of it.
Legal Futures
Group brings together law firm, funder, insurer and client builder
A new group bringing together businesses that fund, litigate, insure and recruit clients, especially to class actions, has been unveiled.
Legal Futures
Judge slams "disordered and chaotic" state of family case
An exasperated Family Court judge has adjourned a final hearing, saying the case was in such a “disordered and chaotic state that it is simply impossible to proceed in a fair way”.
Legal Futures
Litigators urged to start preparing for costs budgeting pilots
Litigators need to start preparing for a new era of costs budgeting, with three-year simplified pilots set to start in April, the Association of Costs Lawyers has said.
Legal Futures
Separating couples "know about mediation but go to lawyers"
Awareness of family mediation as an alternative to legal advice is not matched by action, with nearly half of people saying their first professional port of call in a divorce would be a lawyer.
Legal Futures
MPs back Arbitration Bill as corruption concerns linger
The Arbitration Bill sailed through its second reading in the House of Commons this week, with the government saying the legislation did not need to address arbitral corruption.
Legal Futures
ARAG UK welcomes new CEO: David Haynes will succeed Tony Buss
The Nomination Committee of ARAG UK has appointed David Haynes as CEO of ARAG UK Holdings Limited and ARAG Legal Expenses Insurance Company Limited, in Bristol.
Legal Futures
Expert view: How firms can meet their compliance requirements and deliver a great client experience
Amy asked the panel to share their views on how firms can achieve balancing their compliance requirements alongside providing a great client service in today's legal landscape.
Legal Futures
2025 Legal tech predictions: leveraging talent, streamlining operations, and harnessing technology
As others are predicting (and I agree with), demand may soften in 2025. If that happens, how will firms achieve the expected growth? Firms cannot create ‘new business’ out of thin air, so what will they do?
Legal Futures
Historic phone hacking settlement: Temple Legal Protection congratulates legal teams and highlights role of ATE insurance in securing justice
This historic settlement marks a significant achievement in the long-running phone hacking litigation.
Legal Futures
Understanding mid-sized law firms' priorities in 2025
Mid-tier practices are looking to grow both organically, or by a merger/takeover, and our survey revealed that 17% of firms are intending to pursue an acquisition strategy over the next 12 months.
Legal Futures
SRA under fire for not taking action on "textbook" SLAPP
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has come under fire for closing a complaint about a law firm that represented a Russian warlord without any further action.
Legal Futures
AI users in justice system should be under duty to act responsibly
Those who use AI in the justice system should be under a duty to “act responsibly”, campaign group JUSTICE has argued in a report trying to secure the benefits of the technology.
Legal Futures
National Accident Helpline generating far fewer PI cases
Law firm consolidation and changes in Google's search algorithms hit the number of personal injury cases that listed business NAHL passed to both its panel and own law firm last year.
Legal Futures
Direct access barrister defeats claim for three quadrillion pounds
The High Court has struck out “abusive, wasteful and meritless litigation” targeted at a direct access barrister, her clerk and her insurer – where the damages claimed ran into 27 figures.
Legal Futures
1 in 10 of UK’s Top 200 law firms using AI to improve accuracy and insight into CON29 searches
Search Acumen reports that its proprietary AI tool, Real Estate Intelligence (REI), has been used to analyse local authority search data by 20 of the UK’s top 200 commercial real estate law firms
Legal Futures
New CQS training course equips conveyancers with updated compliance, risk management and service standards for 2025
Conveyancers and legal professionals are supported in maintaining their Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation with the launch of new CQS courses from Access Legal.
Legal Futures
Anglo-Scottish firm under close SRA scrutiny over McClure files
The collapse of an Anglo-Scottish law firm in 2021 continues to have significant reverberations, with the firm that took on its business now under close scrutiny from the SRA.
Legal Futures
Are AML breaches misconduct? High Court hears SRA appeal
A significant appeal that should decide whether a breach of the Money Laundering Regulations is also a breach of the SRA code of conduct starts in the High Court today.
Legal Futures
Veteran barrister disbarred for "recklessly misleading" tribunal
A veteran barrister who attempted to recklessly mislead the court and failed to provide his direct access client with a competent service has been disbarred.
Legal Futures
Market for alternative legal services providers grows by 40%
There has been another big rise in the size of the alternative legal services provider market, up by around 40% in only two years to $28.5bn (£22.9bn) globally.
Legal Futures
Express CEO joins the Lawyer Hot 100 2025 list
Express Solicitors CEO, James Maxey, has made his debut in The Lawyer Hot 100 2025 with the prestigious list highlighting the huge growth of the firm he set up nearly 25 years ago
Legal Futures
Solvency fears at RBG suspends trading in shares
RBG Holdings – the AIM-listed owner of London law firms Rosenblatt and Memery Crystal – has suspended trading in its shares amid worries about its solvency.
Legal Futures
SRA can keep disciplinary decisions online for longer
The Legal Services Board has approved plans by the SRA to change its publication policy and keep details of misconduct on its website for longer.
Legal Futures
Solicitors "letting down" women subjected to economic abuse
Lawyers giving independent legal advice in cases of potential economic abuse of women are helping the abusers more than their clients, new research has suggested.
Legal Futures
Court orders law firm to pay costs for "improper" conduct of case
The Family Court has ordered a law firm to pay 35% of a father’s costs for its “improper, unreasonable and negligent acts”, with their client ordered to pay the rest.
Legal Futures
Ban for trainee who misled employer over reason for day off
A trainee solicitor who misled her employer over why she wanted a day off work, seemingly to hide the fact that she was in court over planning breaches, has been banned from the profession.
Legal Futures
Is B Corp status right for your law firm?
For law firms, becoming a certified B Corp demonstrates a commitment to balancing purpose and profit. But is it right for your law firm?
Legal Futures
Lexis Create+ launch announcement
Today, LexisNexis has released Lexis® Create+, a powerful, personalised legal drafting solution in Microsoft 365, designed to significantly enhance the quality and efficiency of legal work.
Legal Futures
The basics of good client care in personal injury claims
By Adele Greenough, partner – client care and RTA at Legal Futures Associate Express Solicitors Personal injury claims are often a complex and emotionally
Legal Futures
Solicitor cleared of AML offences he had admitted to
The SDT has taken the unusual step of rejecting a solicitor’s admissions that he should have done more due diligence on £24m paid into his firm’s client account.
Legal Futures
KC applications up as succees rate continues to fall
The appointments of 105 new King’s Counsel were announced on Friday after the highest number of applications for 16 years – but the success rate continues to fall.
Legal Futures
MoJ mulls relaxing limits on remote advice for legal aid clients
The government is considering relaxing rules that control the amount of remote client consultations civil legal aid providers can offer, as well as their office opening times.
Legal Futures
Barrister fined for call declaration omissions "had told Lincoln's Inn"
The lawyer heavily fined for failing to declare adverse findings about himself when applying to be called to the Bar said he had already done so when joining Lincoln’s Inn.
Legal Futures
Osprey Approach advises firms how to migrate software successfully on LawCast podcast
The essential steps law firms should take before launching new software systems is highlighted by Alex Hiscutt from Osprey Approach, on the latest episode of The LawCast, The Law Factory’s popular podcast series.
Legal Futures
Legal experts on AI: 'law firms need to adopt a 'strategising mindset''
Industry experts share their predictions of how law firms should approach and embrace AI in 2025.
Legal Futures
Mastercard backs Merricks with £10m for litigation funder dispute
Mastercard will back the man suing it, Walter Merricks, in his dispute with his litigation funder over its proposed settlement with him, which the funder opposes – to the tune of £10m.
Legal Futures
KC condemns SRA for "unprincipled approach" to fines
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has demonstrated a “shambolic and unprincipled approach” to the use of its fining powers, a leading regulatory KC has argued.
Legal Futures
Motor cases continue to fall as other PI claims rise over last year
The number of road traffic accident claims continued to fall last year, according to official data, but claims for clinical negligence, employer’s liability and public liability all rose.
Legal Futures
Law firm sustainability leaders “do not have knowledge they need”
Only 38% of law firm 'sustainability champions' – individuals chosen by firms to lead green initiatives – have the knowledge they need to fulfil their roles effectively.
Legal Futures
Advancing the cause of women in legal tech
I have always wondered if the rate at which change in gender balance is happening is fast enough and, more pertinently, whether this ‘change’ is happening for the right reasons.
Legal Futures
Chris Neill takes new partner role at ARAG Law
Chris Neill has been appointed as Partner and Head of Volume Litigation at ARAG Law; the law firm purchased as part of the DAS UK acquisition, last year.
Legal Futures
ESG moving up agenda as mid-sized law firms seek growth
Mid-sized law firms are focused on growth but recruitment troubles risk holding back their plans, according to new research who showed they were taking ESG more seriously too.
Legal Futures
Drink-drive solicitor who refused breath test did not lack integrity
A solicitor arrested for failing to provide a sample of his breath after being pulled over for drink-driving did not act with a lack of integrity, the SDT has ruled.
Legal Futures
SRA, BSB and CILEX Regulation facing "increased oversight"
The Solicitors Regulation Authority, Bar Standards Board and CILEX Regulation all require increased oversight, the Legal Services Board has revealed.
Legal Futures
Man ordered to pay £10,000 costs for failed LeO judicial review
A man whose application for permission to bring a judicial review against the Legal Ombudsman was certified as totally without merit has been ordered to pay £10,000 in costs.
Legal Futures
Step up for justice at the 2025 London Legal Walk
LLST are inviting you to take on 10k for justice once again on Tuesday 17 June.
Legal Futures
ExamWorks UK announces key leadership appointments to drive technology innovation and strategic growth
ExamWorks UK (EWUK), a leading provider of medical reporting and health care services, today announced the appointment of Maria Hardwidge as Chief Operating Officer (COO), marking a significant step in executing the company's strategic expansion plan and technology initiatives.
Legal Futures
360 Law Services facilitates Tollring’s multi-jurisdictional equity alliance with Amity Solutions
Tollring, a global leader in cloud business analytics, call recording, and fraud protection solutions, has successfully formed a major equity alliance with Thailand-based Gen-AI technology firm Amity Solutions.
Legal Futures
Interview with a conveyancing law firm management consultant
I qualified as a solicitor in 1985 and later became a licensed conveyancer. In 1990, I was a partner in a typical high street practice where I worked across a variety of practice areas, including residential conveyancing.
Legal Futures
Why sustainability should be the golden thread for all lender decisions
Landmark’s Sustainability Director Chris Loaring discusses the lender’s perspective on how ESG planning is an iterative process, why ‘greenhushing’ is detrimental, and why sustainability should be the golden thread that runs through all business decisions.
Legal Futures
Funder targets consumer claims with ABS launch and law firm deal
A law firm funder with £25m in the market has launched its own alternative business structure focused on consumer claims and also acquired data breach law firm Hayes Connor.
Legal Futures
Class action representative "too reliant" on her lawyers
The Competition Appeal Tribunal has refused to certify a £500m collective action because the proposed class representative was insufficiently independent of her solicitors and funder.
Legal Futures
More than third of clients do not instruct same firm for new work
Fewer than two-thirds of consumers who needed legal services more than once used the same firm, according to new research.
Legal Futures
Treasury seeks to intervene in Supreme Court motor finance case
The government has applied to intervene in the Supreme Court hearing on motor finance, expressing concern that the Court of Appeal ruling could damage the market.
Legal Futures
The harmony of difference
It is disturbing that a large number of neurodiverse individuals remain out of work. A recent report showed that many hiring managers were uncomfortable hiring someone who was neurodiverse.
Legal Futures
74% of hourly legal work can be automated, freeing lawyers to focus on what matters most
Artificial intelligence is transforming the legal industry, empowering legal professionals to work smarter, not harder.
Legal Futures
75% of firms predict write-offs to increase in 2025, BigHand’s research confirms
Law firms are entering the dreaded “doom loop” as rising rates and growing discounts fuel unsustainable billing practices.
Legal Futures
Top firm's COLP "acted reasonably" over concerns about client
The COLP at leading City law firm Kennedys has been cleared of failing to adequately investigate concerns about a property development it was advising on.
Legal Futures
MPs revive inquiry into county court delays
The justice select committee has launched a new inquiry into the county court, “amid persistent concerns over capacity and resources”, after the previous one was cut short by the election.
Legal Futures
SDT introduces automatic disclosure of documents
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has introduced a new policy which aims to cut the number of non-party disclosure applications by the press and public.
Legal Futures
Former Lord Chancellor swaps Bar for US law firm partnership
Former Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk KC has left the self-employed Bar to become a partner in the London office of US law firm Jones Day.
Legal Futures
What is a cash management platform and why should you consider this as an option for your clients’ cash?
We would like to introduce you to the Cash Savings Platform from Akoni. If you haven't explored this kind of service before, now is the perfect time to join us and discover the potential benefits this service could offer you.
Legal Futures
Post Office scandal "shows that privilege needs urgent reform"
The Post Office inquiry shows that legal professional privilege presents “significant problems of principle and practice” and needs urgent reform, leading academics have argued.
Legal Futures
Pupil suspended for cheating in training exercise
A first-six pupil barrister who accessed a file without permission that helped her with a training exercise, and then pretended she had not, has been suspended for 18 months.
Legal Futures
LSB pressures regulators to improve lawyers' ethical approach
Lawyers’ lack of proper regard for ethics, and their “disproportionate focus” on client interests above all else, means regulators need to take action to improve compliance.
Legal Futures
Jailed solicitor's ex-wife made subject to unexplained wealth order
The Serious Fraud Office has secured its first unexplained wealth order against the ex-wife of Tim Schools, the jailed struck-off solicitor behind the Axiom Fund fraud.
Legal Futures
Should conveyancers worry about their clients’ retirement?
More and more clients you capably assist will perhaps inadvertently, in their keenness to buy their first new home, be jeopardising their retirements.
Legal Futures
Too complex and long - conveyancers condemn Law Society form
Conveyancers have told the Law Society that its controversial new TA6 property information form is too complex and too long, it revealed yesterday.
Legal Futures
Lawyer "fires" Meta as client over "descent into Neo-Nazi madness"
A US lawyer representing Meta has publicly announced that he has “fired” the company as a client, citing “Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook's descent into toxic masculinity and Neo-Nazi madness”.
Legal Futures
SRA issues warning to firms over sham litigation
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has urged law firms to protect themselves from sham litigation, which can be used to bypass anti-money laundering rules.
Legal Futures
There aren't enough immigration advisers, says rebranded regulator
The amount of immigration and asylum advice available across the UK “does not meet the need or demand”, the rebranded Immigration Advice Authority has said.
Legal Futures
Over-zealous barristers employing "ethically questionable" tactics
Barristers may “sometimes allow their zeal to advance a client’s interests to embrace tactics which are ethically questionable”, their regulator said yesterday.
Legal Futures
SRA: Consumers “at risk from lawyers who do not understand tech”
A lack of digital skills across the UK could be a risk for consumers and law firms if lawyers “do not fully understand" new technology, the SRA has warned.
Legal Futures
“Rapid uptake” of AI by in-house lawyers to manage litigation
There has been a “rapid uptake” of AI by in-house legal teams in the past year, with four out of 10 adopting it for the first time to manage litigation.
Legal Futures
Listed law firm's diversification strategy paying off
Non-legal professional services now account for 30% of the revenue of pioneering listed law firm Gateley, it revealed yesterday alongside good first-half results.
Legal Futures
The AI legal leap: Why firms must adapt now or risk falling behind
Once known for its cautious approach to new technology, the legal sector has undergone a dramatic shift. Today, almost all firms in the UK use AI in some capacity.
Legal Futures
Litera welcomes Cynthia Gumbert as Chief Marketing Officer to enhance global brand vision
Gumbert is an industry-recognized marketing and business executive with a proven track record of exceeding growth objectives in both rapidly expanding and Fortune 500 companies.
Legal Futures
Supporting the industry: Law students join Access Legal for inside track on a career in law
London-based law students joined Access Legal for an invaluable day of practical advice and learning to support their legal careers.
Legal Futures
LexisNexis Enterprise Solutions launches Visualfiles 6, enhancing Azure deployment and enabling Lexis Everyfile adoption for clients
LexisNexis Enterprise Solutions, the specialist software solutions division of LexisNexis® UK, today announced the latest release of its market-leading case management system, Lexis® Visualfiles™
Legal Futures
M&A in the legal sector: 2025 outlook in one word – Consolidation
While headline-grabbing mega-deals were absent, firms focused on mergers and acquisitions to expand their regional reach, strengthen core practice areas, and enhance client offerings.
Legal Futures
Influence the future of mental health in the legal sector: Take part in LawCare’s Life in the Law 2025 research
LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector, has launched its new "Life in the Law 2025" surveys and invites you to take part.
Legal Futures
Pickup in buyer activity at the end of the year opens possibility for strong start to 2025
The seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in November 2024 is 92,640, 13% higher than November 2023 and 8% lower than October 2024
Legal Futures
Financial services barristers fill gap in market with ABS
A specialist chambers of financial services barristers is filling “a gap in the market” by setting up as an alternative business structure regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
Legal Futures
Top law firm unfairly dismissed commercial director
A former commercial director at London law firm Mishcon de Reya has won his claim for constructive unfair dismissal, in part over the non-payment of commission he was due.
Legal Futures
Fee-share partner fined for using client account as banking facility
A partner at leading fee-share firm gunnercooke has been fined £14,000 for using the practice’s client account as a banking facility.
Legal Futures
Solicitor had clients pay fees into personal bank account
A solicitor has been struck off for telling clients to pay small sums of money into his personal account - but, very unusually, his identity has been kept secret.
Legal Futures
Discover how to master the business of law from the authors of The Legal MBA
The latest episode in Osprey Approach’s podcast series, Empowering Law Firm Leaders, is available now to watch and listen for free on YouTube, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
Legal Futures
Growing profits validating consolidation strategy, says listed firm
Growing profit before tax at listed law firm Knights is evidence of the success of its consolidation strategy, chief executive David Beech said today.
Legal Futures
Feeling heard: How Express Solicitors are able to focus on the things that matter thanks to their Premier Success Plan
Express Solicitors, a top 100 law firm specialising in claims and personal injury, has been utilising Access Legal Proclaim, a comprehensive practice management system, for several years.
Legal Futures
Merricks hit by indemnity costs for “completely inappropriate” allegations
The Competition and Appeals Tribunal has imposed an indemnity costs order on Walter Merricks, class representative in the groundbreaking collective action against Mastercard.
Legal Futures
Court adjourns law firm negligence trial over KC's illness
The High Court has adjourned next week’s trial of a £32m claim against a Manchester law firm because its KC is ill, holding that it would be unfair to force it to proceed with junior counsel.
Legal Futures
Strike-off for partner who asked seller’s firm to backdate completion
A conveyancing partner who asked the seller’s solicitor if he could backdate completion by a day to save his client stamp duty land tax has been struck off.
Legal Futures
Temporary truce with Rosenblatt in talks to buy back firm
Ian Rosenblatt has been given a chance to buy back his old law firm from listed company RBG Holdings in the latest twist in his public battle with its board.
Legal Futures
Ex-solicitor told to repay £1m from fraud or face more years in jail
The struck-off solicitor jailed for 14 years for the Axiom Legal Financing Fund fraud has been ordered to pay back £1.1m or face a further five years in jail.
Legal Futures
Suspension for solicitor who did not comply with SDT order
A solicitor who failed to comply with an order made by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in 2020 has now been suspended for a year.
Legal Futures
Three law firm staff disqualified from profession for drugs convictions
Two fee-earners at conveyancing giant ONP Solicitors have been disqualified from the profession after they were jailed for drug dealing.
Legal Futures
The AI revolution: practice excellence is about to reach a new level
The crux of all conversations with law firms has been: “how can generative AI support greater practice and client service without compromising security?”
Legal Futures
Commercial Court claims fall to lowest number in decade
The number of new claims issued in the Commercial Court last year fell to the lowest figure in over a decade, new research has revealed.
Legal Futures
Only 5% of people with legal problems seek advice from solicitor
Half of people have experienced a legal problem in the previous 18 months but only 5% of them went to a solicitors’ firm for help to deal with it, major government research has shown.
Legal Futures
Non-lawyer owner of ABS banned for operating without lawyer
The non-lawyer former owner of a law firm has been disqualified from involvement in another one after breaching the terms of its authorisation as an ABS.
Legal Futures
SRA: Solicitors "lack confidence" over artificial intelligence
Solicitors’ lack of confidence about lawtech and AI could lead to them missing out on the opportunities – and put their clients at risk too, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said.
Legal Futures
One year on: how LEAP Estates is revolutionising private client support
Over the past decade, legal technology has seen unprecedented innovation and growth. Cloud-based infrastructure is now standard, and software has become more intuitive and accessible.
Legal Futures
The importance of ESG amid investor fatigue and greenwashing concerns
In our latest report: Reflections and predictions for sustainability in the property sector in 2025, Landmark’s Sustainability Director Chris Loaring explores the law firm’s perspective on greenwashing risks, integrating ESG policies effectively, and technology’s role in supporting ESG due diligence.
Legal Futures
Moneypenny launches new call tracking service to help legal firms unlock marketing return on investment
Moneypenny has launched a new call-tracking service to help legal firms identify which marketing campaigns, ads, web pages, and specific keywords drive phone calls to their business.
Legal Futures
Rosenblatt hits back in public row: listed legal business "is insolvent"
Ian Rosenblatt claimed yesterday that he set up a new law firm to buy his old one back because listed business RBG Holdings is insolvent.
Legal Futures
City firm partner fined for unwitting role in property fraud
A property partner who failed to undertake proper anti-money laundering checks on a client involved in a “substantial fraud” has been fined £27,500.
Legal Futures
Solicitors with civil higher rights poised to overtake criminal
The number of solicitors with civil higher rights of audience is poised to overtake criminal for the first time, Solicitors Regulation Authority figures have shown.
Legal Futures
New Bar Council chair urges proactive coaching for all barristers
Having a coach to support wellbeing should be part of everyday practice at the Bar like having an accountant and insurance, the new chair of the Bar said last night.
Legal Futures
TikTok or TikNot: Is social media working for you?
The average law firm spends around a quarter of its marketing budget on social media but sees little in return, our research found.
Legal Futures
PE-backed injury giant unveils latest major acquisition
Private equity-backed injury specialist Fletchers Group has unveiled its fourth law firm acquisition in little over three years in the shape of North-West firm Scott Rees & Co.
Legal Futures
The battle of RBG: listed legal business fires solicitor founder
The board of listed legal business RBG Holdings has terminated founder Ian Rosenblatt’s consultancy agreement amid accusations that he is setting up another law firm.
Legal Futures
KPMG to break new ground by launching ABS in America
KPMG is set to become the first of the Big Four accountancy firms to set up a regulated law firm in the US after applying for a licence in the state that allows non-lawyer owners.
Legal Futures
Regulators accused of doing “nothing” to improve client-care letters
It is “an indictment” on all the legal regulators that “nothing substantial” has been done to tackle the problem of “complex and difficult to read” client-care letters.
Legal Futures
Paralegal disqualified for attendance notes of calls he didn't make
A paralegal who did not make the dozens of phone calls he recorded in attendance notes has been disqualified. He also reallocated his files to colleagues without telling them.
Legal Futures
A tipping point year for legal AI will start to challenge traditional legal business models in 2025
As 2024 comes to a close, legal technology business, Search Acumen, outlines its predictions for 2025.
Legal Futures
Exclusive: Major consumer group launches law firm
The Octopus Group, the £13bn financial services and energy business, has launched a law firm to handle probate and estate administration work, Legal Futures can reveal.
Legal Futures
GLD discriminated against senior lawyer on caring career break
The Government Legal Department discriminated against a senior lawyer by excluding her from a cost-of-living payment because she was on a career break at the time.
Legal Futures
Suspended suspension for solicitor who fabricated email
A solicitor who dishonestly created and backdated a letter to the landlord of a vulnerable client has been handed a 12-month suspension, suspended for 24 months.
Legal Futures
SRA imposes control order on CILEX lawyer who misled lender client
A CILEX lawyer who misled her lender client so as to complete a residential property transaction has been made subject to a control order by the SRA.
Legal Futures
Introducing the Security for Expenses Scheme: a cost-free solution for building owners
Security for Expenses arises in the context of building works being carried out by a building owner who shares a party wall with a neighbour.
Legal Futures
Tomorrow’s legal landscape: helping firms prepare for change
Law firms must constantly question the status quo and be willing to adapt. Take nothing for granted. Never say ‘we’ve always done it this way’; never say ‘we’re lawyers and we’re different’.
Legal Futures
SRA issues £1.5m in fines since enhanced power came on stream
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has used the enhanced fining power to issue more than £1.5m fines on solicitors in its first two years, new figures have shown.
Legal Futures
Blacker fails in challenge to Inner Temple's membership refusal
Alan Blacker – the struck-off solicitor once dubbed by a judge as dressing “like something out of Harry Potter” – has failed in a challenge to a decision refusing him membership of the Bar.
Legal Futures
Junior solicitor struck off for misleading probate clients
A recently qualified solicitor at Irwin Mitchell who misled multiple contentious probate clients about the progress of their cases has been struck off.
Legal Futures
Male barrister disbarred again over harassing female pupils
A barrister who won a bid to have his disbarment for sexual harassing two pupils and a woman on a mini-pupillage reconsidered has been disbarred once again.
Legal Futures
Preparing for an SRA accounts audit: A guide for law firms
This guide outlines essential insights for accounts teams to ensure robust compliance and to help audits run smoothly.
Legal Futures
SRA ordered to pay solicitor £184k costs for "improper" prosecution
The SRA has been ordered to pay a solicitor costs of £184,000 over a prosecution the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal described as “improperly brought”.
Legal Futures
£50k fine for lawyer over omissions when applying to join Bar
A high-profile Italian lawyer who failed to declare various adverse findings about himself when applying to be called to the English Bar has been reprimanded and fined £50,000.
Legal Futures
SRA to quiz probate lawyers who “failed to reflect” on training
The SRA is to question probate solicitors who “simply listed” in their training records what they had done, rather than providing “evidence of reflection”.
Legal Futures
Court upholds suspension of barrister in debt to ex-law firm partner
The High Court has upheld a six-month suspension imposed on a barrister who failed to comply with a court order to pay £54,600 to a former salaried partner in his law firm.
Legal Futures
Keystone and NAHL lead way in mixed year for Law PLC
Listed legal businesses again proved a mixed bag of investments last year, with Keystone Law and NAHL continuing to go up, the annual Legal Futures analysis of ‘Law PLC’ has revealed.
Legal Futures
Partners struck off for misleading HM Land Registry
Two experienced partners who submitted paperwork to HM Land Registry with fake names to conceal the true owners of properties have been struck off.
Legal Futures
Post Office investigations to push up costs of barrister regulation
The cost of practising as a barrister is set to rise by 8.5%, in part to finance continuing investigations into counsel involved in the Post Office scandal.
Legal Futures
Law firm defends employment case "entirely of its own making"
A solicitor has failed in a claim for a bonus of nearly £10,000 after a contractual dispute an employment tribunal found “entirely” of his law firm’s making.
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