The Law Society of Ontario has announced that they will allow their June Barrister and Solicitor exams, and their July Paralegal exams to take place online in response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. CEO Diana Miles has said: “The Law Society is confident that the new online delivery model will continue to ensure entry-level competence…
California Bar claims LegalMatch goes against attorney referral law
The State Bar of California attempted to sue LegalMatch on May the 4th 2020, for violating attorney referral laws. In November 2019 the California appeals court in Jackson v. LegalMatch found that LegalMatch, a service that matches clients with lawyers was a lawyer referral service (“LRS”) under California Business and Professions Code § 6155. After…
Hong Kong Bar Association questions legality of Beijing’s national security law
On the 25th May, the Hong Kong Bar association released a statement saying that Beijing and the National People’s Congress do not have the legal power to enact new national security laws which are currently being drafted. The Bar Association have pointed out that Article 22 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, makes it…
LSB extends call for evidence on ongoing competence
The deadline for the LSB’s consultation on ongoing competence has been extended to the 26th June. The call has been extended due to the ongoing pressure on respondents, and the need to divert resources, due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The LSB has said: “We are asking respondents to consider four themes: Defining competence and competence assurance …
Burnett: “No going back” to pre-COVID-19 courts
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett, has said in a House of Lords constitution committee that there would be no going back to pre-COVID-19 use of technology in courts. He also added that if the crisis goes on it may be worth considering lowering the number of jurors to 7. In his answer to a…
Taming COVID-19 by Regulation: An Opportunity for Self-Reflection
Abstract The COVID-19 outbreak offers a rich case study of government’s emergency response. As such, it is a test bed for risk research and regulatory theories in a world increasingly shaped by transboundary, uncertain manufactured and natural risks. This introductory essay to the special issue of the European Journal of Risk Regulation attempts at providing…
Avoiding Even the Appearance of Impropriety: An Empirical Study of Public Perceptions of Ethical Dilemmas in the Legal Profession
Abstract The “appearance of impropriety” standard should be categorically applied to regulate all members of the legal profession. The standard is intended to prevent the public’s loss of confidence in the legal system by disciplining members of the profession who appear to act improperly even if they do not violate specific ethics rules. When applying…
SRA to become distinct legal entity within the Law Society Group
The Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority of England and Wales have agreed to set up the SRA as a distinct legal company within the Law Society Group. The aim is to deliver clearer financial reporting, without changing the fundamental relationship. In a joint statement Law Society President, Simon Davies and SRA Chair, Anna Bradley…
CMA releases report and recommendations on Scottish legal services
On the 24th March, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) released its review and recommendations on the legal services market in Scotland. One of the key recommendations put forward in the report is that an independent body should be set up to regulate the profession, separating representative and regulatory functions. The CMA has suggested that “Separating…
ABA and Hinshaw warn of cyber risks when remote working
The American Bar Associaton (ABA) have highlighted that when working remotely there are important considerations around privacy risks, relating to digital working that should be considered. Ruth Hill Bro, co-chair of the ABA Cybersecurity Legal Task Force, warns that “Law firms are attractive targets and the risk of cyber breaches multiplies as more employees work remotely. The…