Legal Futures

3 days ago | legalfutures.co.uk | Nick Hilborne

The proportion of consumers using solicitors for their wills has dropped below half for the first time, a report has found, with unbundling growing in popularity. However, demand for advice on powers of attorney is continuing to grow, with 22% of consumers using these services, up from 18% last year.

1 week ago | legalfutures.co.uk | Nick Hilborne

A law firm which specialises in defending clients accused of sexual offences has been fined £60,000 after a cyber-attack saw “highly sensitive” details of 682 clients published on the dark web. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said confidential information relating to 109 experts was also exposed. DPP Law only became aware of the data breach when it was contacted by the National Crime Agency (NCA), and did not notify the ICO until 43 days after the cyber-attack in June 2022.

1 week ago | legalfutures.co.uk | Neil Rose

A tribunal judge who let a solicitor bypass security checks to enter a courthouse – leading to a confrontation with security staff – has been given formal advice for misconduct. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) said Judge Jenna McKinney had apologised for her actions, which she took in order for a case to proceed. At the time (May 2024), Judge McKinney held appointments as a magistrate and a tribunal judge in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

1 week ago | legalfutures.co.uk | Neil Rose

A law firm owner has been suspended for not disclosing conflicts of interest to clients, including that his wife was a director of the property development company they were buying from. This meant Waheed Ur Rehman Mian should not have acted for them, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) said. Clients lost money because the development failed and they have been reimbursed by Mr Mian’s insurers.

1 week ago | legalfutures.co.uk | Neil Rose

Solicitors are set to pay £38m towards being represented by the Law Society after it announced plans for a 2% rise in the income it takes from the coming year’s practising fees. The practising certificate fee (PCF) was £307 last year and, until the Solicitors Regulation Authority reveals its budget for the next financial year, it will not be known whether this will go up for 2025/26.