Shielding Firms And Clients From The Digital Threat: SRA Risk Outlook 2019/20
In the opening six months of 2019, law firms reported that £731,250 worth of client money was lost to cyber crime, prompting the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to deem cyber crime to be one of the greatest threats a law firm will face in 2019/20. Cyber security and information security is now deemed a more severe threat than last year, moving […]
Webinar: Funds Transfer Fraud…Think It Couldn’t Happen To You?
The national news continues to report on cases where law firms are infiltrated, bank details are altered, and funds are redirected to criminal bank accounts. This happens when law firms transfer funds between each other, and increasingly when remitting funds to clients. The most common threats to law firms identified in the recent Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Risk Outlook […]
How To Improve Your Objection Handing
We have discussed previously the importance of recognising the difference between call handling, and enquiry handling. While the two share certain traits, there is more nuance to being able to build rapport with and win over a prospective customer to use your services. One of the greatest assets in any enquiry handler’s armory is the […]
VPNs Can Put Privacy And Security At Risk
When working remotely, it’s important to have a virtual private network (VPN) which enables you to link to your workplace and pass information back and to over a secure network. However, experts have warned that not all VPNs are as safe and secure as we’d like to think, with some applications exposing their users to surveillance and cyber attacks. Many free […]
Webinar: Cyber Essentials – The Questions That Law Firms Want Answering
And what’s changing in 2020 Even with £millions continuing to be fraudulently redirected, with the associated reputational impact and knock on effect on professional indemnity insurance premiums, most law firms have not implemented even the most basic cyber security measures. After conducting our own research of 100 law firms, we discovered that 82% of those […]
Energy Efficient Retrofits Dangerously Increasing Indoor Radon Levels
Recent research into the amount of indoor radon concentrations in our homes suggests that the planet’s need to create more energy efficient living is also leading to increased radon related cancer deaths. UK Radon Awareness week is seeking to increase the notoriety of this relatively unknown and significant danger lurking within our homes. According to […]
Embracing the Digital Revolution: Proptech Developments and the Impact on the Conveyancing Process
Developments in artificial intelligence, automation and machine learning are reshaping the world of business. And, the conveyancing sector is no different, with property professionals increasingly turning towards Proptech to help meet the needs of the market. Traditionally, the property industry has been very labour intensive. Searches, enquiries, and the time spent chasing answers can make […]
Transparency Of Fees: Beyond A Level Playing Field
We recently conducted a survey of 100 law firms, to see how well they were complying with the new price transparency regulations. With only 10% offering pricing information and only 4% satisfying the minimum regulatory requirements, it seems like organisations are struggling. Legal firms have reacted in one of four ways: One: do nothing. Some […]
High Moving Costs Forces Clients To Find Conveyancing Deals
Homebuyers/sellers in the UK may have to shop around more to get the best deal on conveyancing due to record high moving costs across the country. The average cost of buying and selling in the UK has increased to £10,414 or £24,585 in London – which is a rise of 2% year on year, according […]
Nominations Now Open For Modern Law Awards
Nominations are now open for The Eclipse Proclaim Modern Law Awards 2020. The Modern Law Awards recognise and celebrates sparkling talent and success in entrepreneurship, market development, business management and best practice in the modern legal services sector. The Modern Law Awards are the perfect opportunity for the sector to showcase and set the benchmarks […]
poweredbypie Becomes CILEx Industry Partner
Search and software provider poweredbypie has today announced it has become a Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) industry partner. Lynne Squires, Head of Business Development at CILEx comments: “I am delighted that poweredbypie has become a CILEx industry partner. This formal partnership enables us to confirm poweredbypie as a recognised service provider that has […]
Clients Choose Law Firms On Trust Not Price
Reputation and trust are more important than price to clients when it comes to choosing a law firm to help them with a legal matter, according to findings derived from the biggest-ever client experience research project conducted in the legal sector. LawNet, the collaborative non-profit network for independent law firms, led the project undertaking almost […]
Gazeal backs first Bold Legal LIVE! and ESTAS Awards
The Bold Legal LIVE! conference is being hosted in association with the ESTAS Group who will be holding their annual ESTAS Conveyancer Awards on 18th October. The one-day conference is open to all property lawyers, law firms and key decision makers in the conveyancing sector. Both events will be held in the stunning ballroom at […]
The End Of Windows 7 Is Nigh
Windows 7 has only 3 months left of extended support from firm Microsoft, as the January 14th 2020 deadline looms closer. What does this mean? The fact that Microsoft are removing their support for Windows 7, doesn’t mean that on 14th January your computer won’t work. It’ll just mean that your computer will be more […]
£616m Stolen By Fraudsters In First 6 Months
According to official UK data, the amount of money stolen by criminals through bank transfer scams has risen by 40%. UK Finance say that scammers stole £616m from UK bank customers during the first 6 months of 2019. £208m of this, was stolen by criminals using authorised push payments (APP) fraud. This was a 40% […]
The Effect Of The Rising UK Flood Risk On Commercial Property
As a society, we tend to quickly forget past events such as weather-related disasters, rather than heed lessons for the future. A timely reminder was the recent flooding in the North Yorkshire Dales in July 2019, during which torrential rain caused 100 homes and several businesses to be underwater. According to accounts, the weather was […]
BLJ Credit Digitisation As Reason For Record Business Year
Bell Lamb and Joynson Solicitors, based in Liverpool, Runcorn and Warrington are crediting the company’s shift towards a digital approach for it’s most prolific business year on record in its almost 200 year history. The North West legal firm, established in 1821, has seen out its latest business year with a total of 16 new […]
Index Announces The Launch Of Integration With Lexsure’s Electronic Report On Title
Index is delighted to announce the launch of our integration with Lexsure’s Electronic Report on Title (eROT). This report is designed to dramatically reduce time spent drafting reports, a report on title traditionally takes approximately one hour per transaction, this is now done in seconds! Richard Norman, Director at Index Property Information, says: “We are delighted to have integrated our […]
Government Update Home Buying And Selling Guides’ Referral Sections
Following the Government’s attempt to create a more transparent home buying and selling process through detailed ‘how to’ guides on buying and selling property in May, the Government has just updated the published documents to reflect the enforcement of referral fee transparency. In March, the National Trading Standards Estate Agency team issued new guidance making […]
Government Pledge £3.6 Billion To Improve Town Prosperity
The Government has pledged £3.6 billion to a Towns Fund aiming to grow and support struggling locations. Overall, 100 locations have been invited to develop proposals and apply to the fund in a bid to improve transport, broadband connectivity, skills and culture. The majority of locations, chosen to improve the prosperity of their areas, were […]
