This is the week in which we learnt from the annual pay survey by the Office for National Statistics that solicitors, in some instances earned less than train drivers and certainly, rather a lot less than Members of Parliament. Another survey, carried out by IPSOS Mori found that 74 per cent of the 500 lawyers surveyed felt that “senior positions throughout the legal profession are dominated by white, public school educated men”. It is possible that by 2020, the legal profession may well be so sidelined by the self-lawyering general public that such problems may even resolve themselves?
In other news, the chief instigator of change within the legal profession, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has defended reforms to the tribunal system, citing a 70% reduction in claims. It was also revealed this week that Police officers fail to record a quarter of sexual offences – including rapes – and one-third of violent attacks. A critic of police behaviour, Andrew Mitchell has been defended this week by his friend Sir Bob Geldof, a self confessed 'pleb'. Mitchell is suing News Group Newspapers for libel.
The controversial US so called 'pick-up' artist Julien Blanc has been barred from entering UK. He holds seminars claiming to teach men how to attract women but his methods have been widely criticised as sexually abusive. This is, no doubt, some consolation for the Blackpool hotel which, earlier this week had charged guests £100 for leaving poor reviews on Trip-Advisor. After the news broke, good sense prevailed and the establishment in concern rescinded the charges.
The purpose of this column is to take a dedicated look at what happened in the business of law, legislative changes, the lives of lawyers and law firms within UK as reported by freely available online legal publications throughout the previous week.
The most interesting articles on developments, compliance, business of law within UK or as well as international developments of interest to UK law firms and legal practitioners:
- Are quotas for judicial appointments lawful under EU law? http://t.co/YkB09mtz31
- Knowledge gap between lawyers and consumers “narrowing all the time” | Legal Futures http://t.co/8aDL7DDfXd
- SRA to end Law Society’s 'Find a Solicitor' monopoly | Legal Futures http://t.co/hF7K6hR5Kn
- Litigation finance on the rise | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/l4MzyGfgij
- Proposed sentencing guidelines for health & safety & corporate manslaughter could cost 10-15% more | New Law Journal: http://t.co/8fGSsc21bf
- Expert witnesses under pressure | New Law Journal: http://t.co/LgjdqlqNOp
- Breast Cancer Care Tour de Law event has so far raised £68,720.68 | New Law Journal: http://t.co/PlUNMOtCoI
- The Law Commission has recommended new statutory offences of kidnapping and unlawful detention | New Law Journal: http://t.co/ebuaAuc4mP
- Costs lawyer supports charity with software giveaway | New Law Journal: http://t.co/ldJ5uYlum5
- Business confidence in UK law firms at its highest since 2006 but doubts over sustainability | New Law Journal: http://t.co/6dwtUwxnYC
- Clients who report a complaint about their solicitor have to wait an average of 550 days | New Law Journal: http://t.co/zONoqBq326
- More optimism over profit for lawyers | New Law Journal: http://t.co/lJJrsIAHA6
- Court allows injunction sent via Twitter | New Law Journal: http://t.co/LaPkTYshx8
- Solicitors ‘prickly’ - economic crime chief | Law Gazette http://t.co/jrNquJfMhP
- Wealth becoming key to justice, say 87% of lawyers | Law Gazette http://t.co/3HyW8phSHR
- Judge takes £2,240 off costs bill for late submission | Law Gazette http://t.co/OG9jVp7dWu
- Law dominated by white, middle class men, mums sidelined | The Lawyer http://t.co/YoztAWuuaH
- SRA to scrap PC fee renewal system | Law Gazette http://t.co/loPJ9V42fN
- Sarah bill: peer withdraws whiplash curb amendment | Law Gazette http://t.co/Foaiaq8Sek
- Solicitor fabricated litigation in three-year deception | Law Gazette http://t.co/dOS2bsfNlB
- SRA seeks further ways to cut burden of 5,000 accountants’ reports | Legal Futures http://t.co/F1haVp7I91
- The "extraordinary" tale of the lawyer who faked his client's litigation | Legal Futures http://t.co/ElTqGMzvLc
- Plant tells "flat earth" Society that SRA independence is inevitable | Legal Futures http://t.co/jjyJ5c2WEQ
- MoJ 'out of touch with reality' over cuts - spending watchdog | Law Gazette http://t.co/01R3nEoO81
- Number-crunchers nail ‘fat-cat lawyer’ myth: What does a ‘typical’ solicitor earn? | Law Gazette http://t.co/XUhDP8sAED
- Half of law firms use predictive coding | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/Awsy21Lgmx
- Jackson Lewis to assess lawyers on efficiency | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/vHnTMhFiDj
- Quarter of UK top 250 consider external investors | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/8lVnXSXas7
- Law reform body's axing could make Northern Ireland a legal backwater http://t.co/V0ZF7ZSnIR
- CJEU calls time on UK pollution foot-dragging | Law Gazette http://t.co/zS98OXFwra
- Government waits on simplifying ‘complex’ ADR landscape | Law Gazette http://t.co/ageVeB6bvr
- ClientEarth wins EU court ruling on UK air quality case | The Lawyer http://t.co/7WyJRSDaCc
- Two distinguished legal commentators call for a royal commission on the penal system. That’s unlikely | Law Gazette http://t.co/1hCIZdsFkJ
- SRA keen to relax accounts submission rules | Law Gazette http://t.co/Qum2m9MNbx
- More part-time judicial appointments in pipeline | Law Gazette http://t.co/hg2r3zQ1x5
- Consumer watchdog under fire over McKenzie friend stance | Law Gazette http://t.co/GUGpxOJIA8
- Chief legal ombudsman quits after accounts probe | Law Gazette http://t.co/sWGhvWNKaK
- Chief Legal Ombudsman resigns in accounts dispute | Legal Futures http://t.co/F9cgFWBgjs
- Seventeen-year-olds in custody will no longer be classed as adults | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/VrlP4xa19g
- ‘Only a royal commission can fix broken penal system’ | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/A2taHQGmh4
- In-house teams are growing stronger, uppermost in lawyers’ minds are ways to control costs | Law Gazette http://t.co/rA3xGenA9b
- Self-lawyering is the future of legal services | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/JKxUyq3n4Q
- Taking lawyers with you on new innovations requires imagination, persuasive skills & communication | Law Gazette http://t.co/dsK2XAL7ih
- Quindell founder Rob Terry resigns from the board | Law Gazette http://t.co/9ybixNB3nF
- US mass hire creates new legal giant | Law Gazette http://t.co/pM58uVeHsJ
- Business confidence near pre-recession level | Law Gazette http://t.co/vGy96CUDSa
- Thousands still await Wonga ‘fake firm’ compensation | Law Gazette http://t.co/1Hin3TM6V3
- ‘Self-lawyering’ is the future, consumer watchdog forecasts | Law Gazette http://t.co/rgBKmYndXX
- “We only accept cash” – the regulation of consumer credit activities | Legal Futures http://t.co/1hAYoWmUPH
- A consumer revolution | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/O4QLLKZUFV
- A case in point | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/yqquBbn8na
- Cameras in Courts: Justice must be seen to be done | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/5zuGULSRZC
- SRA takes 550 days from first report to refer solicitors to disciplinary tribunal | Legal Futures http://t.co/ValusoLKAV
- One in four mid-tier firms mulling external investment, suggests survey | Legal Futures http://t.co/uhqdFFBpBG
- Lawyers should be seen in future as “small part of diverse legal ecosystem” | Legal Futures http://t.co/JAAE9KMncX
- Future of the profession depends on ability to adapt to financial restraints, Lord Chief Justice | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/jZIkoRgugv
- 25 per cent of people who have mental health problems report debt or arrears | Solicitors Journal http://t.co/HWn8wuVrQe
- Confidence soars among UK law firms | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/gXl3MwEXEV
- SRA figures show 18-month lag in serious probes | Law Gazette http://t.co/A2WYkHo01V
- Peter Kalis: Managing partners don’t get no respect | The Lawyer http://t.co/RwVtgA6p7d
- Who'd be a law firm leader? | The Lawyer http://t.co/e8jKHFLzLc
- Offshore special: Singapore focus - an analysis | The Lawyer http://t.co/i9Qpuzdda9
- I'm a managing partner… get me out of here | The Lawyer http://t.co/JCxuflPFX0
- HMRC cranks up the heat on law firms with increase in disclosure notices | The Lawyer http://t.co/dltl4Tu3xy
- Business optimism soars among law firms despite growing competition | The Lawyer http://t.co/qVk5q6geA7
- How to: be a senior partner | Law Gazette http://t.co/ArmfOB9yaj
- Shift in policy on rescue of persons in distress at sea raises urgent questions of international law | Law Gazette http://t.co/B3Julr1IqB
- Lawyers, secrets and spies | Law Gazette http://t.co/bQ60epj4dt
- Brazil lawyers London exchange | Law Gazette http://t.co/wvpSx1txSA
- Insurer in line of fire over client capture | Law Gazette http://t.co/uUuBhme93A
- Bar Conference: barristers urged to seize litigation opportunity | Law Gazette http://t.co/imcQedzlx0
- ‘Virtual’ judge hears jury verdict via Skype | Law Gazette http://t.co/LMGGIRacdB
- Discharge dilemma | Law Gazette http://t.co/YYfbiGVwG4
- Fiona Woolf: justice must be seen to be done | Law Gazette http://t.co/MEFyL1wSrP
- Competition and Markets Authority mulls review of legal sector | Legal Futures http://t.co/52lSkpHyct
- “Overwhelming disagreement” made SRA change track on COFA responsibility | Legal Futures http://t.co/INvTlF5nw4
- Now MoJ sits on litigants in person report for over a year | Legal Futures http://t.co/fwUlE9X2rY
Interviews, features on lawyers and obituaries:
- My legal life: Richard Hosley, Partner, Hogan Lovells - A Profile | Law Gazette http://t.co/RKeMBZOpev
- In-house interview: Direct Line Group's Humphrey Tomlinson - A Profile | The Lawyer http://tinyurl.com/k2lmf7f
Interesting articles involving the study of law and legal cases, legal training, pupillage, associates, legal academia, publications on law and law students:
- An upcoming London event offers students essential contact with firms | Law Gazette http://t.co/Ow5eJi2gBJ
- Trainee solicitors branded 'young fogeys' in The Tab's latest swipe at legal profession: http://t.co/JJSoqyOzil
- Why are barristers such awful dressers?: http://t.co/dxcEHnb29f
- Law has among the lowest proportion of privately educated students of any degree subject: http://t.co/ISmIhGZGgU
- Ex-poly offers City partner-level wage to fill junior lawyer slot http://t.co/o9NULSFrO0
- ULaw's articled apprenticeships: a watershed moment in legal education? | The Lawyer http://t.co/RtCoyuoyHy
- The Law Society of Scotland has won a UK award for its work in supporting new lawyers http://t.co/yUQ72GNSDe
Recommended Articles of this week:
The UK and international articles of the week are pieces selected by @TheLawMap tweeting team based on recommendations from friends and followers of LawNewsIndex.com daily law news blog.
- The Nazi war criminal, the Nuremberg prosecution expert… and a shared love of Bach http://t.co/fXLDQrqWMc
- Plebgate: a libel battle royal in the RCJ | The Lawyer http://t.co/mCpVEinPAT
- A sensible prisons policy is possible, but politics should play no part http://t.co/L0ZbP4MCqC
- What does it mean to be stateless? http://t.co/RiW28KkU54
- UK government tries to hide the chaos caused by legal aid cuts http://t.co/GMngFJLpAN
- MP who earned £450,000 as a barrister accused of 'bunking off' http://t.co/LwD41Sg6Ks
- How to Bridge the Gap Between IT and Legal Departments http://t.co/LfbxlQADUq
- European Court of Justice ruled judges must force ministers to clean up the air as soon as possible: less diesels http://t.co/w5ro8HAlUd
- Lawyer who suggested convicted rapist Ched Evans could be innocent has defended his views http://t.co/X3dBKMOjhD
- Lack of legal aid in child cases soars http://t.co/HMEmk0V3im
Lawyers, Law Firms, Chambers & ABS in the news this week:
Friday 21st November
- Pérez-Llorca wins Spanish airport IPO deal with €1 fee | The Lawyer http://t.co/svYREyELx5
- Osborne Clarke advises KPMG on deal for McLaren Group analytics | The Lawyer http://t.co/c6IM2ViCgD
- Mayer Brown makes up one City partner amid 21-strong promotions round | The Lawyer http://t.co/8fuFYW5ldV
- Uber hires Hogan Lovells to advise on internal privacy investigation | The Lawyer http://t.co/P8yeQbd5Kf
- Squire Patton Boggs and Bonelli collaborate on Rai Way €280m Italian IPO | The Lawyer http://t.co/NSc17X3hpM
- Collyer Bristow settles Rangers fight for £24m | The Lawyer http://t.co/9B6UemnpGf
- Pinsents' outgoing MP David Ryan: "I thought I couldn’t get any busier" | The Lawyer http://t.co/Jy5vhozV9Q
- Clifford Chance advises bondholders pursuing unpaid Ukrainian bond coupon | The Lawyer http://t.co/EkMQGHizAF
- Trowers profits up but partners answer £1.8m cash call | Law Gazette http://t.co/F9eXI5kxZR
- Law firm Kitsons has appointed a new solicitor in its Litigation Department http://t.co/1RZoBzui9M
- Retired solicitor who successfully challenged Newcastle City Council over unfair payment of elderly care home fees http://t.co/K0qRc6W1tk
- Genus Law, ABS backed by a gambling entrepreneur makes first acquisition | Legal Futures http://t.co/TH3c9s0zcw
- SRA already in touch with Quindell | Legal Futures http://t.co/a0FNMYMxIb
- Top marks go to 89 firms on LGBT treatment | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/AEYMohYvIA
- Chicago firm sued in relation to spoofing probe | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/GRQS8sjxpv
- Collyer Bristow repays £24m over Rangers FC advice | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/BibY2BBlpX
- Eversheds seeks US merger partner | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/dUwFXd0qpb
- Reports of layoffs at Bingham services centre | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/Kvyo31BhHQ
- Chairman departs listed law firm | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/yU8z7VIdXe
- A&O lays off four associates in Moscow | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/8L8ErR5vB3
- Wachtel Lipton benefits from takeover boom | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/k4I4DyUYsD
- Holroyd & Co appoints solicitor Julie Devenport http://t.co/HwCIiDZfgU
- Else solicitor claims honours in Midlands Family Business Awards http://t.co/wpgsDx47vf
- Connect2Law relaunches with 'platinum' law firm members | Legal Futures http://t.co/PGSSgTpZPd
- Marrache liquidators sue Baker Tilly for £28m in bid to recoup lost client funds | The Lawyer http://t.co/thQLbZAO6T
- Olswang reports 11 per cent increase in revenue to £63.9m at half-year | The Lawyer http://t.co/aoV9R7TcfZ
- Eversheds partners vote to pursue US merger | The Lawyer http://t.co/yAnI3VfjJM
- Abelman becomes British American Tobacco’s new legal chief as part of management re-jig | The Lawyer http://t.co/bUM0wmCwFf
- Simmons re-elects managing partner | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/Qlus7BQ45o
- Europe fuels Baker M&A in Latin America | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/6Is5SYvmjL
- Morgan Lewis cherry picks 227 Bingham partners | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/x0RZSDpTwN
- Lawyers caught in the crossfire over tax disclosure | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/H30s9OgkV7
- Law firm Harrison Clark Rickerbys has announced the winners of its new trainee solicitors awards for 2014 http://t.co/rPoVhup4PX
- Pontypool-based solicitor Lindsay Tasker has been appointed to the Law Society’s Children Panel http://t.co/DHHCD1HMhX
- Top job for Liverpool barrister who led phone hacking prosecution http://t.co/2wFqBAsH8E
- North East-based Gordon Brown Law Firm expands team with appointment of experienced associate solicitor Damian Robson http://t.co/EidTHrAUpo
- Addleshaws advising Morgan Lewis as raided Bingham set to fold | The Lawyer http://t.co/wo17hJAg4J
- JP Morgan asking for reduced rates in panel review | The Lawyer http://t.co/s0FX0ikgJz
- Addleshaw Goddard revenue up 11 per cent at half year | The Lawyer http://t.co/HGvHnu8lW0
- Nabarro and Goodwin Procter advises on acquisition of Telegraph Media HQ | The Lawyer http://t.co/CKJA4syfXK
- Doughty Street Chambers barrister Tunde Okewale adds gentlemen’s bible accolade to his 2014 hottie barrister position http://t.co/rK05O4kMj0
- parkrun UK runs with Newcastle law firm Muckle LLP http://t.co/nr9GCKffMK
- Morgan Lewis & Bingham merger to go ahead | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/E0Q0aKeGcO
- Clayton Utz loses three partners | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/oyT2f4VsQM
- Napoli Bern accused of Ground Zero $36m overcharge | The Global Legal Post http://t.co/p8dWl2NW98
- Bad news keeps on coming for Quindell as financial adviser quits | Legal Futures http://t.co/AF1MXg78iP
- Leeds Law Firm, Ison Harrison Solicitors has extended its Commercial Property operation by appointing Sean Gallagher https://t.co/26OO3aCv3t
- Motherwell firm of solicitors has become the biggest earner of criminal legal aid in the west of Scotland http://t.co/st0sa4p2I8
- Chester legal firm Knights recognised in Chambers UK guide http://t.co/U9NKZxIJJT
- Baker & McKenzie in Latin America: Why Europe is dominating M&A referrals | The Lawyer http://t.co/WUZRN4LgsA
- DLA Piper's Turkish office demerges from firm but retains relationship | The Lawyer http://t.co/N8967kH2Zg
- Baker Botts & Davis Polk among US giants to advise on Halliburton & Baker Hughes merger | The Lawyer http://t.co/KwFiY1Vnh3
- Norton Rose Fulbright sets 30 per cent female partner target for 2020 | The Lawyer http://t.co/4tJJqkKVJ2
- China oil giant CNOOC breaks ties with Baker & McKenzie after investigation finds conflict of interest | The Lawyer http://t.co/rcqmZBKiZu
- EDF Energy overhauls in-house career progression to mirror private practice | The Lawyer http://t.co/PJu9gmimEA
- Littleton snares 3VB's Cooklin as director of clerking | The Lawyer http://t.co/Cv6F0qmu9T
- Rothschild and Lazard: which firms did best out of the independent advisers in 2014? | The Lawyer http://t.co/ew21Z381fW
- LAW FIRM NEWS: Milbank plays catch-up in London with two partners made up | The Lawyer http://t.co/hDRQVRk24H
- Quindell shares at five-month low as adviser quits | Law Gazette http://t.co/EGLKhC2ex4
- Mackesys closes as buyers found for open files | Law Gazette http://t.co/joXycsR1Au
- Morgan Lewis votes to admit 227 Bingham partners in mass lateral hire | The Lawyer http://t.co/Y8WCNqEPbF
- Travers Smith appoints Kirkland partner Biggs in first lateral hire since 2011 | The Lawyer http://t.co/W165NhjtlR
- Bird & Bird replaced by Fladgate on £4bn RBS shareholder case after fees row | The Lawyer http://t.co/PUuvi0vlIQ
- Simmons & Simmons re-elects Jeremy Hoyland as managing partner | The Lawyer http://t.co/gtqL3B0IQu
- US firms set to gain as exits mount from DLA Piper’s London litigation team | The Lawyer http://t.co/2Ww7qRAQOT
We would like to thank all the publications cited in this week's column. Please notify via @TheLawMap Twitter handle of any errors or omissions.
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