Personal Insolvency verses Matrimonial Law
Article by Ian Defty, Partner at Begbies Traynor and Insolvency Advisor at IDR. It is fair to say that there has, for many years, been a “difference of opinion” between the law governing personal insolvency and matrimonial law with each “side” believing that they are right and should take precedence. The principal, sometimes conflicting, legislation is covered in […]
Self care is important – free webinar
If the last 12 months has taught us anything, it is the importance of taking care of our mental health and well-being. As many of us have struggling with the social isolation, homeschooling and work and home life balance may have become a bit skewed. With this in mind, Resolution and LawCare, have provided a […]
AML Risks – why did I agree to be the MLRO?!
This is a question I ask myself many times each day since being appointed the MLRO for Weightmans in May 2020! Faced with the current economic uncertainties caused by the pandemic, Brexit, new AML risks identified by the SRA in its Risk Outlook 2020/2021 including the shift from face to face to on-line identification/verification procedures, […]
FREE Webinar: A Review of the Updated LSAG AML Guidance
If you’re an MLCO or MLRO, hopefully by now you have had chance to grab a copy of the latest LSAG Draft AML Guidance and started to thumb through its content. If you have, then you’ll have noted the many references to “Must”, “Should” and “May”. For those familiar with Lexcel and CQS, you’ll know […]
It’s not EU, it’s me
“We must build a kind of United States of Europe. In this way only will hundreds of millions of toilers be able to regain the simple joys and hopes which make life worth living” Winston Churchill 1946 Like approximately half of the voting population (or thereabouts), the decision to leave the EU was horribly disappointing […]
Deal, what deal?
A Family Lawyer’s perspective on UK-EU “Trade and Cooperation Agreement” Last January, I wrote an article entitled: “No-deal Brexit would cut children adrift A long tradition of cross-border co-operation and recognition of judgments is close to being abandoned” In it I said, Cassandra like: “As we approach the eve of Brexit, not even to have […]
Courts and Tribunals : reporting COVID-19 incidents
HM Courts and Tribunals Services (HMCTS) have provided processes for dealing with coronavirus cases which impact our courts and tribunals. It includes how information about incidents can be shared with staff, judiciary and professional court users. All suspected incidents and / or confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) within the court and tribunal buildings in England […]
How can your firm manage risk and compliance in an increasingly digital world?
As law firms continue to adopt digital ways of working very quickly as a result of the rise in remote working; it seems likely that some of these changes in working practices are likely to be here for the long term. Some staff will be considering whether they’d like to work from home more even […]
Pandemic causes pupillage numbers to plummet
The coronavirus pandemic has caused bar pupillage numbers to dramatically drop by a quarter in 2020. The regulator has warned that chambers may cut back recruitment in future months. There were 354 pupils in December 2020, compared with 475 in December 2019 and on average, there were 473 pupils at the bar between 2015 and […]
Webinar: How to protect your firm from a cyber attack
Not even a month into 2021 and already it has been a busy start to the year for law firms. This coupled with the new working from home culture unfortunately elevates the risk of law firms being subject to a cyber attack. In 2019, almost 50% of businesses in the UK suffered a cyber attack […]
Bishop & Sewell and Monro Wright & Wasbrough LLP announce merger
The Partners of Bishop & Sewell and Monro Wright & Wasbrough are delighted to announce the merger of their two firms. Monro Wright & Wasbrough (‘MWW’) merged with Bishop & Sewell on 1 February 2021 and the newly combined practice will operate as “Bishop & Sewell LLP incorporating Monro Wright & Wasbrough.” The Bishop & […]
Funding is needed for mental health reform, says Law Society
The Law Society has warned that proposed changes to the mental health system must be properly funded to be effective. Following publication of the Mental Health Act White Paper in January 2021, the regulator has stressed that for the reform to be successful it needs significant monetary backing. In order to succeed the proposed reforms […]
New LSB rules on regulators’ fees will increase transparency for lawyers
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published new Rules and Guidance to increase transparency on how legal services regulators spend practising certificate fees (PCF). Increased transparency will help empower those who pay the PCF to hold their regulator accountable for its expenditure. The proposals are designed to lead to a more meaningful debate on the […]
Do you know the top ten cyber attack reasons?
A new year is widely seen as the chance for a new start; time to look at your priorities with a fresh perspective and vigor. This new year has started very differently for all of us. Many won’t head into the office as we once would, and this brings with it it’s very own set […]
Divorcing a Narcissist: The lure, the loss and the law
What would it be like to divorce someone like Donald Trump? A new book unveils the tricks and tactics that narcissists use in divorce proceedings and provides ways for the partner to survive the process. Donald Trump is the narcissist’s narcissist. He would be classified as both an exhibitionist narcissist and a devaluing narcissist* and […]
Legal Eye Risk Management Podcasts
Risk and compliance consultancy Legal Eye brings you the first in a series of short podcasts designed to share short snippets about risk management in a law firm. In this ‘Two Minute Top Tips Podcast’ they look at improving ‘Complaints Handling’ within your firm. Listen to the podcast here. This article was submitted to be […]
Register tax advice work now or face SRA enforcement, law firms warned
Solicitor firms could face enforcement by the profession’s regulator if they do not register their tax advice work under new anti-money-laundering (AML) obligations, the Law Society of England and Wales has cautioned. Earlier this month, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) stated that solicitors had until 10 January to check if any tax advice work they […]
Working from home might be great for now – but will it last?
Marilyn Stowe is one of the UK’s best known family lawyers. She founded and sold the UK’s largest family law firm in 2017. She takes a look at whether working from home will last forever. I wore an Alexander McQueen cream and black tweed suit with sky high black patent heels, to sign away ownership […]
Special code scheme to help domestic abuse victims
Victims of domestic abuse can now use a special code word to alert staff in pharmacies across the country that they require help. Abuse victims can now “Ask for Ani” in pharmacies, including Boots stores, across the UK to signal they need help and support. The scheme was set up to give victims an opportunity […]
Sharp increase in legal professionals seeking help for anxiety
The number of legal professionals contacting the charity LawCare for emotional support continues to rise year on year, with 738 legal professionals seeking help in 2020, a rise of 9% on the previous year. The charity received 964 calls, webchats, and emails to their support service in 2020. The most common problems cited were stress […]