Dealing with coronavirus legal issues is currently a major challenge for legal practitioners everywhere.

New content has been added to the By Lawyers reference manual 101 Policies and Procedures, after a recent author review.

Practical issues relating to the remote signing of documents such as agreements, deeds, wills and powers of attorney

Timely compliance with CLE/CPD requirements has suddenly become a challenge for many small law firms. This is a result of the cancellation

In response to subscriber feedback By Lawyers has enhanced content relating to staff training and continuing competence requirements. Additional guidance on the topic has been added to the Practice Management commentary and a new precedent ‘Training and development schedule’ provided. This precedent will help subscribers plan, review and record continuing competence activities as required by The Law Society and SRA.

From the 10th January 2020, the 5th Money Laundering Directive (5MLD) will come into force. In support of these new compliance requirements, By Lawyers has made several precedent amendments. In particular the Client Details and Verifying Identity precedent now recommends an electronic identification verification process but continues to support a manual process should that be necessary. Practitioners can elect whether the client has passed the verification successfully or whether the client details have been passed on to the AML Officer for enhanced due diligence. For manual verification practitioners are able to record an acknowledgment that identity documents were produced personally, and the photographic ID was a good likeness of the person producing them. Other changes include: The precedent now captures sex and nationality detail; and Politically exposed persons (PEP) are covered in greater depth with a number of suggested searches firms should be undertaking. The details about a PEP client can be recorded on the precedent along with the provision for a senior partner to authorise the firm to act. The retainer instructions have also been amended to include an acknowledgement that the instructions relate to a PEP and require a senior partner to authorise the firm to act.

The SRA changes coming in on the 25th November has seen the By Lawyers Practice Management manual updated. New information and precedents have been included as well as existing policies updated. Please note the many client care and terms of business precedents have also been updated.

Many subscribers will have noticed the file cover sheets now include a funny little code at the bottom of the page. This code is called a QR Code and it contains two identifiers that are used to identify the law firm and the matter. Should a firm use the FileMan Information Management system for long term file storage this will assist to streamline the process.

Legal professional privilege can be a complex area. But it can also be a very important area for practitioners and their clients.

A summary of the rules and responsibilities for client money has been included in the Practice Management guide. They are expressed as a straightforward and easily understood appreciation of the essential obligations and professional responsibility when handling client money.

By Lawyers is monitoring the increasing emphasis on anti-money laundering in the profession. Read more...

From 1 July 2019 the time for calculating statutory deposits has changed.

The Practice Management publication is undergoing a makeover to ensure it complies with best practice and SRA regulations. Read more...

Two helpful new precedents have been added to the By Lawyers Practice Management guide

Legal Aid Regulations have been amended to exclude payments made under the Windrush Compensation Scheme as income or capital in determining the eligibility of legal aid.