The most recent Judicial Attitude Survey has revealed that a high proportion of senior judges are intending to quit the judiciary in the next five years, citing an array of grievances. Continue reading “‘A relentless treadmill’: Nearly half of senior judges are considering quitting amid pay and workload grievances”
Human rights lawyer Professor Phil Shiner has been struck off and ordered to pay costs of £250,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over the pursuit of false allegations against British soldiers in Iraq. Continue reading “Al-Sweady inquiry: Shiner struck off for dishonesty with £250,000 costs over Iraq war claims”
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has dismissed claims against Farrier & Co partner Julian Pike, a solicitor accused of advising News International that it should spy on lawyers who were acting for victims of phone hacking. Continue reading “SDT clears News of the World lawyer of spying claims”
Top City lawyers have outlined their concerns as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) pushes ahead with law reform for corporate liability for economic crime. Continue reading “‘Serious issues’: City lawyers raise concerns as MoJ pushes ahead with corporate liability reform”
Anyone who has seen the Law Society council in action over the past 20 years will not be surprised by the criticism levelled at it by chief executive Catherine Dixon in her brutally frank resignation letter last week. Continue reading “Guest post: Time for the Law Society to cut the cord”
After its top lawyer resigned in September, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has appointed a new lead counsel in the form of 2 Bedford Row’s Brian Altman QC. Continue reading “‘Hugely experienced’: Child abuse inquiry picks 2 Bedford Row QC Altman to replace Emmerson”
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said clients are struggling to find legal services at the right value following its year-long review into legal services industry. Continue reading “‘Step change in standards’: CMA sets timeline to improve price transparency in legal services”
Well, it is nearly over and few in the profession will mourn the passing of 2016. Not since the banking crisis of 2008/09 have 12 months so drastically recast the environment in which law firms ply their trade, most strikingly, of course, in June’s vote for Britain to quit the EU and November’s election of Donald Trump as the 45th US president.
It would be an understatement to say the majority of City lawyers were hoping both votes would go the other way. Now the profession is facing a 2017 as unpredictable and unnerving as 2009 seemed in the aftermath of Lehman’s collapse. That year heralded an unprecedented wave of job cuts and recast the industry. But despite comparable uncertainty, 2017 does not yet look as threatening. Firms remain in their leaner New Normal form and after a tumbleweed prelude to the Brexit vote and a quiet summer, a wave of deal-making has powered many firms as business gets on with investments put on hold.
Continue reading “After shocks of 2016, law leaders may need to start thinking”
Public inquiries have the power to seek truth in tragedy and scandal, but could a rigid process and weak leadership be undermining their authority? We talk to the professionals at the sharp end
It was supposed to find the facts amid decades of cover-ups and abuse of the most vulnerable in society, but in recent months the former chair of one of the most complicated inquiries in British history was branded a disgrace and its lead counsel departed trailing controversy and legal threats.
Continue reading “Watching the watchmen – at the sharp end with the lawyers on public inquiries”
The controversial Investigatory Powers Bill received Royal Assent this week, after being passed by both houses of parliament earlier this month. This was despite the fact that signatures on a petition calling for it to be repealed passed the 130,000 mark, meaning that it must be considered for parliamentary debate. Continue reading “Controversial snoopers charter receives royal assent despite risk to legal privilege”
