Admin 
30 April 2020
Landmark reveals new Landmark Academy to provide free learning and development for property lawyers and conveyancers
Landmark Information, the property, land and environmental data specialist, has today launched a brand new Landmark Academy service, which provides property lawyers, conveyancers, legal executives and PAs with the ability to access free training and development videos, podcasts and articles, as part of their Continuing Competence requirements.
Are your incident management plans fit for purpose in the new normal?
SRA warning
On April 9th, the SRA advised that “criminals have taken advantage of concern over the Covid-19 outbreak.” They noted that “The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has reported a 400 percent increase in coronavirus related fraud reports in March.”and warned that remote working as a result of coronavirus “will present many with new cyber security challenges.”
Ben Aslet, LEAP UK Marketing Manager, explains how law firms using LEAP’s cloud-based practice management solution are successfully adapting to remote working and how it’s as near as can be business as normal for law firms using LEAP. He said LEAP have talked to several law firms using the software to find out how they are managing with life away from the office.
The current health crisis means that more and more legal professionals are working from home. Many are showing resilience and agility in the face of the lockdown and those firms that are equipped and have remote-friendly software are faring much better than those have not.
Mike Leeman, BLJ Solicitors comments “We now have 50 members of staff working seamlessly from home, thanks to LEAP Legal Software UK.”
‘Hearing the Dawn Chorus brings Stress Levels down’
So… How can people help halt the 50% decline in
UK Songbird Numbers in 50 years?
Expanding Derby legal firm Timms Solicitors has added a new dimension to its customer relations thanks to Oberoi Business Hub.
After just a few months of turning to Oberoi to handle incoming calls, more business opportunities have been created thanks to what managing partner Fiona Moffat says are “voices with a smile”.
Timms moved to the former St Michael’s Church in Queen Street, Derby four years ago and has grown dramatically since then.
Fiona Moffat said: “This is much bigger and more prestigious than our previous premises.
“We have evolved in four years since our move from Babington Lane and have worked really hard at being grounded high street lawyers who give our clients a rounded, personal service.
Read moreTimms seizing new opportunities after turning to Oberoi’s ‘voice with a smile’
When reading about your family law sub committee in your newsletter I noted a “reminder” about rights of audience.
There is no protocol in the family courts in Derbyshire to enable experienced legal executives to have generic rights of audience in the family proceedings court. The position in private law proceedings is that chartered legal executives are authorised persons under the Legal Services Act 2007, but are required to have an advocacy certificate before they have rights of audience in parts III,IV, and //v Children Act proceedings.
Read moreA Reminder about Rights of Audience from HHJ Williscroft
What a difference 8 weeks makes! Last editorial I was so pleased to say that there was lots happening in DDLS and now just 8 (short??) weeks later we are in the fourth week of lockdown. I now have an 18 year old who is no longer sitting “A” Levels (guess which one he is in the photo on page 23?) and a 14 year old that we have nicknamed the Count as he only comes out at night preferring to spend his mornings in bed and afternoons/ evenings surgically attached to his Play Station. I understand that he speaks to his school mates on the PS – I know that because I keep yelling at him about his colourful language!!
An accountant once said to me, “It is unusual to find a conveyancing lawyer who knows about tax.” I replied that I was a tax lawyer who knew how to do conveyancing!
In today’s increasingly specialised world, practitioners specialising in one discipline often know little or nothing about other areas of law, and this can bring with it the risk of missing a trick or two. For example, many firms these days simply make it clear in their conveyancing Retainer that advising on the tax consequences of the proposed transaction is excluded, and if asked why simply say, “Talk to an accountant.” I wonder how many clients actually do this, especially if they do not already know one. It is dangerous to dabble in areas of law where one is not fully conversant, but if a conveyancer is able to outline why their client ought to talk to an accountant – and maybe recommend one, the client may be more likely to do so, and less likely to complain when a tax penalty comes in if they did not. Ignorance may not be so blissful after all…..
Read moreTax issues for conveyancers and the art of cross-selling
As an independent school, Denstone College has the freedom to be bold and innovative in its approach to education. We aim to prepare our students for life in a changing world by providing a curriculum that offers more than just a focus on GCSE and A level courses. The highest possible standards in teaching and learning combines with fantastic educational facilities to produce excellent academic results.
We are excited to have launched a range of additional benefits to our students in the guises of the LIFE programme, The Winning Mindset, and the Denstone Diploma.
Hello,
The unfortunate events of the last few months need no explanation and we live in uncertain times.
The effects of the Coronavirus outbreak have resulted in a major upheaval in the legal system which will not only affect the industry in the short term but will undoubtably change the legal system for the next few years. All persons employed within the legal sector are part of the fight and I hope to see that our local law firms (many of them long time established practices in the community) come out the other side in the best possible shape with jobs protected and clients reassured.
The reputation of this very worthwhile event is growing. It is encouraging to recieve feedback from schools who have taken part previously that they are now entering teams for national debating competitions and forming their own debate societies within the schools. This years Final took place on 4th March 2020 and was judged by HHJ Jonathan Bennett, President of the Derby and District Law Society Martin Salt and Sue Jennings, Head of Law at the University of Derby. Joe, Gracie, James and Emmy from Chellaston School emerged victorious over Rhea, Rosie, Girish and Krish from Littleover Community School in a close and entertaining debate about the English justice system. Congratulations to all the pupils who took part in the competition and the staff who worked so hard to support them.
Did you know Quill provides an electronic library of over 2,000 statutory forms and e-submissions to key agencies? With current working-from-home government measures becoming increasingly longer term in the united battle against COVID-19, law firms using printed legal forms need to switch to an electronic alternative as a matter of urgency. Similarly, if practices are already using electronic forms but unhappy with their provider, there’s no time to lose in finding a replacement.
That’s why Quill’s hosting a series of half-hour webinars throughout April on its electronic forms product and offering the first 90 days free of charge upon sign up. *
With the beginning of the new financial year upon us, Quill’s chosen its new charity of the year for 2020-21. For the next 12 months, Quill will be actively fundraising for Action for Children.
Should you not already be familiar with the charity, Action for Children helps children and young people with practical and emotional care and support by delivering wellbeing courses and skills programmes, campaigning for change, publishing vital research, providing fostering and adoption services, and more.
Read moreAction for Children is Quill’s new charity of the year
18 February 2020
Insight Legal becomes a Strategic Partner of The Law Society
Insight Legal Software is delighted to announce that following a period of assessment by the Law Society of England and Wales, it has become one of their strategic partners.
Law Society outlines changes to the Conveyancing Quality Scheme
The recent Geodesys CPD event saw Eleanor O’Reilly-Joe, Head of Accreditation at the Law Society and Peter Rodd, CQS Chief Assessor, bring the packed room up-to-speed on recent changes to the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS).
Legalex 2020 Has Been Rescheduled for 2nd & 3rd December 2020
Legalex (18-19th March 2020, ExCel, London), has been closely monitoring updates on the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. The global impact of this situation, not least upon international travel and resulting restrictions imposed by many organisations, means that after discussions with all parties we have taken the decision to postpone.
LegalEx makes its much-anticipated return to ExCeL London on the 18th & 19th March 2020, hosting the most comprehensive and all-encompassing event dedicated to facilitating business growth and professional development for legal professionals and firms.
Hello,
I trust you all enjoyed the Christmas break as we look forward to a new decade which I hope brings success and improvement to the long-suffering legal industry.
The D&DLS Quiz was (finally!) held on Thursday 23rd January 2020 at Derbyshire County Cricket Club. No floods were an issue in a tightly fought contest which resulted in team WOW (represented by Wykes O’Donnell Williams) lift the silver quiz shield. The questions set by our quizmasters were the toughest yet although this did not dampen the enthusiasm of our participants. My thanks to all who attended the event.
Editorial Bulletin February 2020
Lots happening in DDLS at the moment as we tire of the incessant rains and storms and just do the great British thing and carry on regardless.
What sets us apart is our highly experienced and knowledgeable team. Adair’s assets, our people, have delivered a full-end-to-end service in construction management since 1994.
