A report in 2021 by Arden Partners suggested that within five years, a third of lawyers could be working under a consultancy model. Is this the future of law firms?

In this instalment of the How to Grow a Law Firm series, Clio’s Geraldine O’Reilly, will chat with the team at illume Legal, to examine how they adopted the consultancy model and how it can work for growing firms.

Join illume Legal’s Kate Partridge and Michelle Harris as they discuss:

• The consultancy model and what’s involved
• The pros and cons of running a consultant model firm
• How to create a consistent brand when all your employees are entrepreneurs
• The essential systems and processes needed when working with consultants
• The systems and processes (both tech and non-tech) needed at the different stages of growth at their firm

Duration: 45 Minutes

Cost: Free

The National Will Register’s Expert Webinar – Invalidity of Wills for want of knowledge and approval

Wednesday 25th May 2022, 12noon

Presented by Thomas Dumont QC, Radcliffe Chambers

Registration link: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3766836/5CE441CF52A18276F10D48D86A21D0CC?partnerref=TWP

Thomas Dumont QC joins us for the next Expert Webinar with The National Will Register on 25th May to present “Invalidity of Wills for want of knowledge and approval”.

Since Colonel Wintle, as a litigant in person in the House of Lords in 1958, overturned his wealthy cousin’s Will favouring her solicitor. The courts have been ready to declare wills invalid for want of knowledge and approval, even though validly executed.

What is more, since Sifri v Clough & Will is in 2007, the courts have been ready to make the solicitor who prepares the will pay the costs bill for the probate action, where want of knowledge and approval is established.

​​​​​Agenda

• Examine just what the courts mean by “want of knowledge and approval”
• Explain when the issue of knowledge and approval can arise
• Look at the risks which preparing a will can then throw up
• Explore what you can do to ensure that you will not foot the bill for any probate action

Register for free by clicking here: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3766836/5CE441CF52A18276F10D48D86A21D0CC?partnerref=TWP

Presented by Thomas Dumont QC, Radcliffe Chambers

Tom Dumont QC was appointed silk in 2019, the culmination of years as one of the most in-demand barristers at the Chancery Bar. He has been Advocate of the Year at STEP’s Private Client Awards, and one of the Lawyer’s Hot 100. He has won cases in the Supreme Court, the Administrative Court and the Court of Appeal, as well as his more usual stamping-ground, the Business & Property Courts of the Chancery Division.

He is known for his client-centric approach, forming an easy and efficient working relationship with solicitors and clients. He seeks solutions rather than obstacles. His practice covers the booming sector of contentious probate, family provision and other private client litigation and advice. He has a particular strength in professional negligence where it overlaps with the private client world, such as tax-planning by solicitors and accountants. He is recognised for his expertise in advising and acting for charities. His clients range from landed families and trust companies on and offshore, to entrepreneurs, national charities and Russian oligarchs.

Event details:

Date: Tuesday 7^th June 2022 at 10:30am – 11:15am

Missed assets and liabilities are a growing issue in estate administration with 88% of professionals agreeing it is increasingly challenging to identify estate accounts. This session will cover several key learning objectives including:

– The Missing Billions, the value and location of UK unclaimed assets

– The Dormant Asset Scheme, proposals by UK government

– The Implications for Executors and Beneficiaries

– Best Practice and Due Diligence, including free resources to mitigate risk

Register online here: https://www.millar-bryce.com/webinar-missing-billions-uk-unclaimed-assets/

Can’t make it on the 7^th? We’ve got you covered. Simply register for the webinar as normal and a recording will be sent to you within 24 hours of the webinar’s completion.

An evening of discussion and networking, for legal practitioners and law firm owners.

We are delighted to announce the return of our popular and highly regarded Innovate Legal series, an in-person event series that brings together legal experts and legal professionals, which first kicked off in 2019.

Join us on Thursday the 9th June for Innovate Legal: London. Together, we’ll learn from leading minds in legal, meet fellow innovative legal professionals, and expand our skill sets in managing legal businesses.

Guests on the lineup include award-winning legal services provider Alice Stephenson (CEO and founder of Stephenson Law), Arun Chauhan (Founder, Tenet Compliance & Litigation), Colin Bohanna (General Manager, UK & Ireland at Clio), Hannah Beko (Founder of Authentically Speaking), and Rob Hanna, (founder of KC Partners, host of The Legally Speaking Podcast, and co-founder of Virtual Insanitii).

Space is limited: you must register in order to attend this event.

When: Thursday, 9th June

Where: The Goldmiths’ Centre, 42 Britton St, London EC1M 5AD

Time: 17.30 – 21.00

Format: Drinks & food, with light programming

Please join us on Friday 10th and Monday 13th June for CTT Superhero Webinar No. 90 – an introduction to CTT Law.

This webinar will be hosted by our guest speakers, Eamon Sullivan and Laura Massey, who are joining us from CTT Law. Eamon is a dispute resolution and litigation solicitor, and Laura is CTT Law’s conveyancing manager. Chris Hirons, our systems coordinator, will also be joining us to discuss new Legacy Software features that will enable you to refer contentious probate enquiries to CTT Law.

Agenda

• A history of CTT Law, their mission and relationship to the Group, presented by Eamon Sullivan
• An introduction to CTT Law’s Departments and Team Members, presented by Eamon Sullivan
• A demonstration on new Legacy Software Features for contentious probate enquiries by Chris Hirons
• A discussion on other common disputes CTT Law can assist in resolving, presented by Eamon Sullivan
• A summary of CTT Law’s pre-action services and an overview of the litigation procedure, presented by Eamon Sullivan
• An overview CTT Law’s conveyancing services, presented by Laura Massey
• An introduction to other legal services CTT Law can provide, presented by Eamon Sullivan

Join us on Zoom on Friday 10th and Monday 13th June.

10:00am – 11:00am

Friday 10^th June: https://countrywidegroup-co-uk.zoom.us/webinar/register/1516524503148/WN_n_JwhpTITU2H1XPb4FzUyg

Please join us on Friday 10th and Monday 13th June for CTT Superhero Webinar No. 90 – an introduction to CTT Law.

This webinar will be hosted by our guest speakers, Eamon Sullivan and Laura Massey, who are joining us from CTT Law. Eamon is a dispute resolution and litigation solicitor, and Laura is CTT Law’s conveyancing manager. Chris Hirons, our systems coordinator, will also be joining us to discuss new Legacy Software features that will enable you to refer contentious probate enquiries to CTT Law.

Agenda

• A history of CTT Law, their mission and relationship to the Group, presented by Eamon Sullivan
• An introduction to CTT Law’s Departments and Team Members, presented by Eamon Sullivan
• A demonstration on new Legacy Software Features for contentious probate enquiries by Chris Hirons
• A discussion on other common disputes CTT Law can assist in resolving, presented by Eamon Sullivan
• A summary of CTT Law’s pre-action services and an overview of the litigation procedure, presented by Eamon Sullivan
• An overview CTT Law’s conveyancing services, presented by Laura Massey
• An introduction to other legal services CTT Law can provide, presented by Eamon Sullivan

Join us on Zoom on Friday 10th and Monday 13th June.

10:00am – 11:00am

Monday 13^th June: https://countrywidegroup-co-uk.zoom.us/webinar/register/7016524509932/WN_jzlfUTVWQFiw_HXjYgHgOw

This year, annual SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly) National Conference 2022 is taking place at Kings Place, London on Thursday 23^rd June. Chairman of SFE, Michael Culver will open the event which will mark the first time the conference has been held in-person since 2019. The conference is set to be held on 23rd June 2022 at Kings Place, London, 9:00am – 4:30pm, with a drinks reception following between 4:30pm and 6pm.

Following on from the success of last year’s format, the day will revolve around an in-depth case study. This year’s case study, “Beware – Your Gins Will Find You Out!”, will see expert speakers help unpick the key legal issues facing 44-year-old widow Nina Wright whose husband, Stuart, died suddenly in a car accident.

Together, the couple had three children, including Ben who is 25 years old and has Down’s Syndrome. Nina discovers that her husband had an affair which resulted in a secret love child. Stuart had not written a will and this revelation, together with a secret love child, issues with the banks and Nina’s children making demands on her, encourages her to reach out to a local SFE solicitor to help sort it all out.

Attendees are advised to read the full case study ahead of the event and make notes on how they would approach the situation. The guest speakers will then explore this throughout the day and attendees will be able to compare their techniques.

Speakers include:

• Barbara Rich of 5 Stone Buildings who will delve into intestacy, probate issues and the inheritance act claim as part of the case study.
• Cate Searle, Head of Community Care Law at Martin Searle Solicitors who will cover funding Ben’s living arrangements and the Care Act.
• Stuart Barlow, an experienced family solicitor, who will discuss the care of dependent children on the death of a parent and what advice can be given to clients as to the appointment of a Guardian.
• Caroline Bielanska, Independent Consultant Solicitor, Mediator, author & legal trainer, who will centre around Ben and his potential inheritance, vulnerability, and care.

Find out more and book your tickets here.

An evening of discussion and networking, for legal practitioners and law firm owners.

We are delighted to announce the return of our popular and highly regarded Innovate Legal series, an in-person event series that brings together legal experts and legal professionals, which first kicked off in 2019.

Join us on Thursday the 23rd June for Innovate Legal: Dublin. Together, we’ll learn from leading minds in legal, meet fellow innovative legal professionals, and expand our skill sets in managing legal businesses.

Space is limited: you must register in order to attend this event.

When: Thursday, 23rd June

Where: Medley, Unit 7, Old Irish Times Building, Fleet Street

Time: 17.30 – 21.00

Format: Drinks & food, with light programming

Speakers include:

• Richard Grogan, Principal, Richard Grogan & Associates
• Colin Bohanna, General Manager, UK & Ireland at Clio
• More speakers to be announced!

STEP are delighted to welcome the Global Congress to London on 7th-8th July 2022 with a quality programme of presentations and debates that deal with the big issues that our profession faces. The Congress will not only focus on the debates happening now, but also those that will dominate in the future too.

This event offers you the opportunity to hear from speakers at the forefront of the trusts and estates profession and network with some of the world’s leading advisors, both at the Congress itself and at the social events that complement the programme.

A powerful thought-provoking agenda includes: modern families, modernisation of the estate industry, trusting trusts, supported decision-making and artificial intelligence (AI).

As an attendee, you will not only have the chance to see the future direction of the organisation, you will also be able to help steer the campaigns that STEP will be launching for the coming decade and ensure its position as the pre-eminent worldwide professional association for those advising families across generations.

View the full programme and register at https://connect.step.org/Congress2022. The early-bird ticket offer closes at midnight on the 29th April.