More than 14m people live in ‘legal aid desert’, new report reveals
Nearly a quarter of the population of England and Wales lives in an area classed as a ‘legal aid desert’, new research reveals. Analysis of local authority data by LexisNexis suggests that 14.49 million people, or 23% of the population, live in an area with a high need for legal aid and limited access to […]
£12k fine for client account breaches in the administration of an estate
A Kings Lynn firm has been fined £12,366 and ordered to pay costs of £1,452 for client account breaches relating to the administration of an estate. The Solicitors Regulation Authority fined Hawkins Ryan LLP for transferring £23,348.50 from its client account to its office account between June 2022 and December 2023 for work pertaining to […]
SRA cites hallucinations and client confidentiality concerns in AI warning note
Hallucinations and client confidentiality are two major concerns cited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in a new Misuse of AI warning notice issued by the regulator. Acknowledging the increased use of AI across the legal sector in the support of tasks such as research, drafting, document review and administrative processes, the SRA’s executive director of strategy and policy […]
Honorary King’s Counsel award nominations open
The Ministry of Justice is inviting nominations for the award of King’s Counsel Honoris Causa. The nomination window is open now and will close on 18th September. To be eligible for the award, the individual must be a qualified lawyer or legal academic, including probate practitioners, solicitors and chartered legal executives. The honorary award is unique […]