On the subject of 2019
Claimant lobby vows action over ‘ridiculous’ portal tariff rates »
On October 25th, 2019 MTUK Solicitors wrote on the subject of 2019.
By John Hyde A claimant chief has denounced potential compensation levels for RTA victims as arbitrary and ridiculous, as questions continue to mount about the new portal for claims. Paul Nicholls, chair of the Motor Accident Solicitors Society, told its annual conference yesterday that the Ministry of Justice should delay implementing the portal rather than […]
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Claimant and defendant sides fail to agree clin neg fixed costs levels »
On October 24th, 2019 MTUK Solicitors wrote on the subject of 2019.
By John Hyde A working group set up to explore the feasibility of fixed recoverable costs for clinical negligence has found claimant and defendant factions unable to agree on several key issues. In a report published by the Civil Justice Council, the group said both sides ‘came close’ to agreeing fixed costs figures for claims […]
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COFAs face ‘huge burden’ as record numbers referred to tribunal »
On October 22nd, 2019 MTUK Solicitors wrote on the subject of 2019.
By John Hyde Record numbers of finance officers from law firms are appearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, new figures show. A total of 19 compliance officers for finance and administration (COFAs) were referred to the SDT in the year ended 31 March 2019. This was the highest since COFAs were established in 2013, with […]
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Look for signs your clients are slaves, solicitors told »
On September 13th, 2019 MTUK Solicitors wrote on the subject of 2019.
By Eduardo Reyes Children and adult victims of modern slavery are at risk of avoidable criminal convictions because their enslaved status is not raised in their defence, the Law Society has said. Traffickers routinely force victims of modern slavery to commit immigration infringements, and they may also be compelled to take part in other criminal […]
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Ask about children before sentencing, MPs and peers tell judges »
On September 11th, 2019 MTUK Solicitors wrote on the subject of 2019.
By Monidipa Fouzder Thousands of children are being harmed each year when their mothers are sent to prison, a cross-party group of MPs and peers has said, concerned about the lack of information that judges have to sentence appropriately. The joint committee on human rights, in a report published yesterday, says judges must make reasonable enquiries […]
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Bar offers free app to report bullying and harassment »
On September 9th, 2019 MTUK Solicitors wrote on the subject of 2019.
By: Monidipa Fouzder The Bar Council has turned to artificial intelligence to help barristers report bullying and harassment quickly and anonymously. Talk to Spot, a smatphone app developed by Spot, a US tech company, will enable barristers to talk through and record contemporaneously inappropriate behaviour at work. Barristers can choose to save the report for […]
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Clash over cause of probate delays »
On September 6th, 2019 MTUK Solicitors wrote on the subject of 2019.
By Jemma Slingo The Ministry of Justice is under-reporting probate delays, according to a Law Society committee chair – but the government has implied that faulty applications from solicitors are driving up waiting times. Edward Argar MP, parliamentary under secretary of state at the MoJ, told parliament at the beginning of August that average waiting […]
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First law school unveils SQE course plans »
On September 3rd, 2019 MTUK Solicitors wrote on the subject of 2019.
By Jemma Slingo BPP is the first law school to reveal details of its conversion course to prepare non-law graduates for the solicitors’ ‘super-exam’. The course, available from next September, will be shorter than the current Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), and will not have a single end-of-year exam season. At the moment, students are […]
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First probate registry closes as application delays drag on »
On August 27th, 2019 MTUK Solicitors wrote on the subject of 2019.
By: Jemma Slingo The first probate register office to shut under the £1bn courts reform programme will close its doors next week, the government has announced – to the fury of solicitors already waiting months for grants of probate. The Law Society said it will continue to challenge the closure. Under the reform programme, Birmingham […]
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Social mobility boost for aspiring solicitors »
On August 22nd, 2019 MTUK Solicitors wrote on the subject of 2019.
By Monidipa Fouzder The Law Society is urging aspiring solicitors facing various hurdles to qualifying to apply for a place on Chancery Lane’s social mobility scheme after welcoming the latest cohort of scholars. Society vice president David Greene said he was delighted to welcome 10 new students to the Diversity Access Scheme, which has supported […]
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