Law Firms Amongst Quickest To Report Data Breaches Pre GDPR
A recent Freedom of Information (FoI) request has found that law firms were amongst the quickest organisations to react and report data breaches to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). However, in the time prior to General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), businesses languished for too long until they reported the breach to the UK’s official watchdog. […]
Attorneys Face Increased Complaints Regarding LPA Abuse
The government carried out almost 50% more investigations concerning abuse complaints regarding lasting powers of attorney (LPA) in 2018. In total, the Office of the Public Guardian received 5,245 claims that attorneys were abusing their donor’s finances last year. This is more claims of abuse than the OPG has ever had to deal with. As […]
Specialist Compliance Adviser Joins The Legal Eye Team
Steven Taylor has joined specialist risk and compliance business Legal Eye as Compliance Adviser. Steven brings an extensive background in banking and in litigation funding as well as direct experience as a MLRO, further strengthening the depth and breadth of experience available from the Legal Eye team. Having started his career in financial services with […]
£1Bn HMCTS Court Reform Deadline Extended To 2023
Following feedback from the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) have delayed the completion date of plans to overhaul, modernise and improve the courts system. The £1 billion project is now expected to finish in 2023, a year longer than the original completion date. HMCTS referenced the recent […]
Legal Service Providers Overwhelmingly Unprepared For Brexit
The majority of law firms have failed to prepare for Brexit and do not prioritise it as an immediate concern despite the March 29 deadline just weeks away. According to the most recent Bellwether Report Series – ‘The Luxury of Uncertainty’ – by Lexis Nexis, fewer than 1 in 10 law firms have put in […]
Mega Rich Car Boot King’s Son In Legal Battle Over £5m Will
The son of a multi-millionaire car boot king is in a legal battle with his young step-mum over the family inheritance after not receiving a penny from his Dad’s £5m Will. Richard Scott died at the age of 81 last summer after making a fortune from managing the UK’s second biggest boot fair from his […]
Wills And Probate Firm Closes After Working Through Eight Monarchs’ Lifetimes
One of the oldest law firms in England has fallen into liquidation and closed its doors after almost 250 years of providing legal advice. Founded in 1773, Brighton Firm Howlett Clarke Solicitors, would have been engaged in legal concerns regarding the Tea Act that looked at issues involving smuggled tea into England when they were […]
ICAEW Fails To Extend Its Legal Services Regulatory Work
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has lost its appeal over extending legal services regulatory work after its application against the Lord Chancellor’s earlier refusal was turned down. In 2016, the world leading professional body that promotes, develops and supports over 180,000 chartered accountants and students, applied to become a regulator […]
Awards Entries And Bookings Now Open For British Wills and Probate Awards 2019
Following the success of last year’s British Wills and Probate Awards in the Autumn, Today’s Wills and Probate, alongside headline sponsor, Arken.legal (UK) Ltd, a leader in software solutions for the legal services industry, are excited to announce the opening of the award entries and tickets for the event. Hosted by the publishers of Today’s […]
What Solicitors Say About Discovering The Existence Of An Unknown Will
Over the last 18 months we have regularly reported on a number of the many thousands of Wills that are found following a Certainty Will Search. These searches are implemented by solicitors who never assume that they are holding or have been presented with the last Will to distribute the estate with, nor that a […]
Are You Behind The Times With Technology Innovations?
The world is becoming paperless. Bookstores are closing. Libraries are introducing e-books. Receipts are emailed. Taxes are filed online. Bank statements are accessed electronically and our digital calendars automatically remind us of approaching meetings and events. Looking to increase profits and improve productivity? Owing to massive improvements with security, functionality and scalability, many legal companies […]
79% Of People Over 45 Have Not Made A Valid LPA
Although people are encouraged to use forward planning tools, like a lasting power of attorney (LPA), in the prime of their life to ensure all their assets and financial matters are managed in line with their express wishes, a recent report by Co-op Legal Services has found that 79% of respondents over the age of […]
Brexit Will End The Debate Over Whether The UK Is A Third State In Relation To Brussels IV
Advising clients who hold property and assets in foreign jurisdictions is now commonplace. Many baby boomers scooped up a ‘place in the sun’ with a view to living out their golden years in a sunnier climate. But the threat of a no-deal Brexit has resulted in deep uncertainty for owners of second homes abroad, especially […]
Family Law Entrepreneur Seeks To Bring Settify Offer To UK Wills And Probate Market
Today’s Wills and Probate talks to Settify CEO and Principal Max Peterson about his company, Settify and plans for building a client base in the UK. The Australian legal tech company provides a way for new clients to engage with firms online (through their websites). The systems use Artificial Intelligence and Expert systems to intelligently […]
Aretha Franklin’s Estate Suspected Of Theft
It is believed Aretha Franklin’s estate may have been ripped off to the value of $178,000 just weeks before her death last summer. Oakland County Chief Prosecutor, Paul Walton said last week that there had been an investigation in progress which may have now come to a standstill due to the soul legend’s death on […]
The Rise Of AI And Robots Divides The UK
Workers in the North could find themselves unemployed in the coming decades due to the influx of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robots, while their counterparts in the South will profit from rising demand and increased employment. According to information presented to MPs on the likely effects of automation, mature workers in northern cities are particularly […]
Prodigy Frontman, Keith Flint, Commits Suicide Aged 49
Charismatic frontman of the Prodigy, Keith Flint, 49, was found dead at his home in Brook Hill, North End, Essex, yesterday morning. Although the police at the property have concluded that nothing suspicious was responsible for the death, his band mates may have been privy to further information as they claim suicide to be the […]
Untrustworthy Younger Generation Blamed For Reluctant LPA Use
Overwhelmingly, the older generation feel as though they are unable to trust their younger relatives with their financial decisions as they age. A recent report, conducted by Co-op Legal Services, has found that 79% of respondents over the age of 45-years have not made a lasting power of attorney (LPA) because they do not completely […]
New Grant Of Probate Design Launched Today
The Ministry of Justice has today launched a new digitised Grant of Probate certificate. The redesign, which currently has an English version ready only, focuses on security issues and consists of: A standard digital signature instead of the old style wet signature A digital seal instead of an embossed one on the old style A […]
Brexit Implications On The Property Market
The property market. A subject that most people have an opinion on regardless of their experience of buying or selling. A matter that we see on the news and read in the paper on almost a daily basis. Brexit, another subject that occupies a lot of media attention at the moment. With the scaremongering surrounding […]
