Shielding Firms And Clients From The Digital Threat: SRA Risk Outlook 2019/20
In the opening six months of 2019, law firms reported that £731,250 worth of client money was lost to cyber crime, prompting the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to deem cyber crime to be one of the greatest threats a law firm will face in 2019/20. Cyber security and information security is now deemed a more severe threat than last year, moving […]
Should Couples Considering Prenups Also Look At Baby-nups
A growing trend sweeping social media and parenting forums, is that of a “baby-nup”; a pre-baby agreement drawn up by parents, that divides chores and expectations before the haze of sleepless nights and nappies. We asked a panel of family solicitors their view on the subject that has social media divided. Although prenuptial agreements, best […]
Laura Naser: Insta Success And Family Law Book Deals
Social media, to many solicitors, is a useful tool for creating connections with others in the legal industry and catching up with industry news, even tweeting about recent legislative or political developments. However, when it comes to using social media to speak to clients, many leave well alone. As a law student, it is drummed […]
Technology Is Pivotal To Top Law Firms Strategic Plans
The use of evolving technology has become fundamental in the UK’s leading law firms key strategic planning. With developments in artificial intelligence, automation and machine learning transforming businesses, top law firms are tapping into the potential of tech to help meet the needs of the market. A recent survey of the UK’s top 100 law […]
Webinar: Funds Transfer Fraud…Think It Couldn’t Happen To You?
The national news continues to report on cases where law firms are infiltrated, bank details are altered, and funds are redirected to criminal bank accounts. This happens when law firms transfer funds between each other, and increasingly when remitting funds to clients. The most common threats to law firms identified in the recent Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Risk Outlook […]
Top Tips for Common Objection Handling
Here are our top tips to help you when you’re objection handling. Take a walk in your client’s shoes Buying a house is one of the most stressful things a person will do in their lifetime, so remember when you’re talking to a client, empathise with their situation. Try and establish the motive behind the […]
Guide To Support Barristers On Parental Leave And Future Progression
The Western Circuit Women’s Forum (WCWF) has made a number of recommendations to chambers in a best practice guide, Back to the Bar, a practical guide to help parents return to and thrive at the Bar. Produced to help Chambers ‘support barristers who take parental leave’ before, during and after, with the belief that fewer barristers will feel compelled […]
How To Improve Your Objection Handing
We have discussed previously the importance of recognising the difference between call handling, and enquiry handling. While the two share certain traits, there is more nuance to being able to build rapport with and win over a prospective customer to use your services. One of the greatest assets in any enquiry handler’s armory is the […]
Integrity And Ethics Under The Spotlight In Latest SRA Outlook
Integrity and Ethics have been put under the spotlight in the newly released Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Risk Outlook for 2019/20, citing it as one of their nine challenging key risks which continually needs adhering to in the legal industry. With the legal profession dependent on trust, the SRA treats cases that lack integrity or actual dishonesty […]
30th Anniversary Of The Children’s Act 1989
November 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the passing of the Children’s Act 1989. The Children’s Act 1989, is a landmark piece of legislation for children and families going through the family courts and for social work practice in the UK. The act was implemented in October 1991, making the welfare of the child the […]
Diversity In Family Law: SRA Risk Outlook 2019/20
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have released their Risk Outlook for 2019/20, citing ‘Diversity in the profession’ as one of their nine challenging key risks which continually needs tackling in the legal industry. Promoting diversity in the legal profession has been a difficult task over many decades and despite many campaigns to address the issue, still more needs to be done. In the 2018/19 Risk Outlook it stated: “Our law firm diversity tool shows that entry into […]
Barlow’s Cohabitants And The Law, 4th Edition (Part 1)
In Part I (Chapters 1–6) of the book, I examine the law which affects cohabitants/the ‘unmarried family’ when living together as a unit. One significant development since the last edition published in 2001 (discussed at Chapter 2) is that on the birth of a child the joint registration by the parents of that child will […]
Webinar: Cyber Essentials – The Questions That Law Firms Want Answering
And what’s changing in 2020 Even with £millions continuing to be fraudulently redirected, with the associated reputational impact and knock on effect on professional indemnity insurance premiums, most law firms have not implemented even the most basic cyber security measures. After conducting our own research of 100 law firms, we discovered that 82% of those […]
Several Non-Solicitors Banned From Working In Legal Profession
There have been several instances recently of non-solicitors being made subject to orders under Section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974. This means that the persons subject to Section 43 cannot work for law firms regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) without its permission. Sameena Usmani was as administrative assistant at a firm in Buckinghamshire. She […]
Time Is Running Out To Enter The LPM Practice Excellence Awards
Time is running out to enter the Legal Practice Management (LPM) Practice Excellence Awards 2020. A spokesperson for the LPM Practice Excellence Awards said: “The awards were launched in 2019 to recognise excellence in legal business management. The two core categories – people and efficiency – reflected the achievements and/or best practice of those working […]
VPNs Is Yours Putting Your Privacy And Security At Risk?
When working remotely, it’s important to have a virtual private network (VPN) which enables you to link to your workplace and pass information back and to over a secure network. However, experts have warned that not all VPNs are as safe and secure as we’d like to think, with some applications exposing their users to surveillance and cyber attacks. Many free […]
Could The Secret To A Successful Divorce Really Be Nest Parenting?
A new trend is seeing divorcing parents no longer doing the swap over ritual of children but rather swap themselves. It may seem a rather strange concept to some, but it is certainly working for others. When couples divorce, it can often leave both parties feeling the pinch when it comes to setting up a new […]
Committee Reports On Court And Tribunal Reforms
The House of Commons Justice Committee has released its second report of 2019 into the Court and Tribunal Reforms amid serious concerns about the effect on access to justice and its efficient despatch of the current court and tribunal modernisation programme. Although the report agrees that services that have been long overdue, are being implemented, the new […]
Settify & iFLG Launch Platform For Pre-Nuptual & Post-Nuptual Agreements
The International Family Law Group LLP (iFLG) became the first firm of solicitors in the United Kingdom to adopt ‘Settify’ which they also helped to develop. This is an artificial intelligence driven online system that is accessible for clients via the iFLG website, or by email invitations that the iFLG sends to new clients prior […]
Pre-Nuptial Agreements: Where Do You Stand?
Pre-nuptial Agreements (pre-nups) have, once again, found themselves under the legal spotlight at the Court of Appeal. In a Judgement, delivered in December 2018, during the case of Brack v Brack, the Court of Appeal considered, amongst other things, the correct approach to be taken by Judges when dealing with an effective pre-nup – albeit […]