Once upon a time, the Lady in the Blue Trousers™️ launched a newsletter, and wow, it was on fire with over 300 subscribers in less than 48 hours, and over 400 by the end of the first week!
The LPM Shake’n’Fix brings those who work in, and with, the legal profession, a down-to-earth round-up of updates, and weekly recommendations and tips! Shaken, not stirred.
Welcome back! If you enjoyed the first edition, then it is with fingers crossed you will enjoy this second one even more.
Article Round-Up
Throughout the week, I come across 10s, sometimes 100s of articles, posts and blogs, with many containing really useful information for the legal profession. Here you will find a few key ones that stood out to share the updates, knowledge and insight.
Reminder – an amendment to the money laundering regulations has come into force. As of 10 January 2024, the status of UK politically exposed persons (PEPs) is different to overseas PEPs. Law firms should consider amending their policies and procedure. Further detail can be found under SRA | Politically exposed persons – changes to the regulations | Solicitors Regulation Authority
BCS Statement on the Post Office Horizon IT Scandal | BCS Dr Sam De Silva, Chair of BCS’ Law Specialist Group and Technology Partner at law firm CMS: “As the professional body for IT, BCS has long called for a review of how computer generated evidence is treated by the courts. Organisations relying on evidence generated from computer systems to support prosecutions should be required to prove that the underlying computer system is reliable; we hope this will be a clear recommendation from the enquiry.”
Companies House is changing. There will be new responsibilities for company directors; people with significant control of a company; and anyone who files on behalf of a company. Find out more about the changes to UK company law under Changes to UK company law – Changes to UK company law
Goodbye billable hour, hello Legal Output Points (LOPs) | LinkedIn This article by Ed Boal, discusses an idea he’s been playing around with – replacing the billable hour with a defined points-based unit of consumption for legal work, which he calls ‘Legal Output Points’.
Top Tip
This week’s top tip comes direct from Steve Brett, from E3 Compliance Training Ltd, who takes a moment to remind us all to reflect, by looking from the outside into the business of your law firm:
“Remember to look from the outside. We are all busy. Things to do. Places to be. Changes we want to make, so things are better. But do we always take the time to reflect? To look at the business from a different perspective? For example, when was the last time you saw your business from a client’s point of view?
Be curious.”
IMPORTANT Compliance Update
With thanks to the ILFM (The Institute of Legal Finance & Management) for the below, who emailed all their members this week with the following:
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) is changing its postal address with effect from Monday 22 January 2024.
The Legal Ombudsman’s new postal address will be:
Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6167, Slough SL1 0EH
Further details can be found under: The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has change of postal address that requires law firms to change their information 2024. (ilfm.org.uk)
Learning & Development
Wow, now this is a good one! This is a free online course for anyone working in the legal industry – from legal innovation professionals, to technologists, to trainee solicitors, to partners, to law students. Regardless of your role and experience in the legal industry you will find a part of the course that is relevant to you.
LegalTech Education | Law School 2.0 (lawschool2-0.com)
The curriculum is based on Law School 2.0’s annual LegalTech Vacation Scheme, and has been further developed with their partners iManage and Barbri. Just awesome!
So, what are you waiting for, enrol immediately!
Book of the Week
Everyone can be a leader, it is not reserved for those with the title partner, director, manager. For those who are already a great leader, you can always do better and continue to learn and grow.
‘Unlock The Hidden Leader’ by Gifford Thomas
I bought this book a while back, and hands up, I have dipped in and out and not finished reading it as yet, but what I have read has been really insightful and useful.
This book will help you find the inspiration within, so you can plant seeds of hope in the hearts of your team, learn how to use communication to lead and inspire change successfully and, most notably, awaken a sense of expectation inside of you and the people you lead. Leadership has precious little to do with authority, management acumen, or even being in charge. It’s all about one life inspiring and motivating another to become the very best version of themselves.
Recommended LinkedIn Follow of the Week*
Now, this guy is described by one of his client’s as “At times, uncomfortably candid in the best way. [Mr T] understands the commercial realities of business and is a pleasure to work with.“
He is an outsourced FD who specialises in providing strategic finance input to the legal profession. Mr T knows his biscuits from his cakes! (Bad tax joke, sorry not sorry)!
He manages to infuse wit and humour into everyday accounting posts. I mean, who else do you know that can take the % of potato content in a crisp and tax, and make you laugh?! And then by sheer genius, manages to attract further comedic commentary from LinkedIn passersby.
Who is this Tom aka Mr T? It has to be none other than Tom Blandford.
Seriously, top guy.
Now, I couldn’t leave you hanging without linking the potato post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tom-blandford-9714241b_ive-posted-before-on-the-absolute-gold-that-activity-7153788584318103553-atUd?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
Upcoming Events 2024
Key events that I recommend attending for the year ahead (updated weekly):
SRA Transparency Rules and the advantages of being open about pricing (Tues 23rd Jan 2024, Online) | Event | Communities – The Law Society ⏲ 2pm – 3.30pm 🎟 FREE for Risk and Compliance Section Members, £45 + VAT for Law Society Members and £55 + VAT Standard rate
VWV Approach – 10th anniversary seminar and celebration – VWV Plus 📅 Tuesday 6 February ⏲ 3pm – 6pm 📍 VWV, 24 King William Street, London EC4R 9AT 🎟 Free to law firms only
ILFM Legal Compliance Conference: Navigating Finance & Managing Excellence Tickets, Thu 16 May 2024 at 09:30 | Eventbrite 📍The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL 🎟 From £99
Legal Geek Growth – Legal Geek 📅 Thursday 6 June ⏲ 8.30pm – 7pm 📍 Shoreditch, London 🎟 Free to law firms on application
Get your ticket – Bold Legal Group Conveyancing Conference & Soirée 2024 – Regent’s University, Wed 19 Jun 2024 08:45 – 19:00 (tickettailor.com) 📍Regent’s Conferences and Events, Regent’s University London, Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4NS
Embedding culture and taking people with you | LawFirmAmbition 📅 Tuesday 25 June ⏲ 9am – 6.30pm 📍 Regent’s Conferences and Events, Regent’s University London, Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4NS 🎟 Form Page – LFA Conference 2023
You made it this far…
Thanks so much for taking the time to read this week’s edition. I hope you found it useful, and if not subscribed, go click that subscribe link to be notified when the next edition is released. It is only going to get better!
If you would like to be part of ‘The LPM Shake’n’Fix’ journey, maybe provide a ‘Top Tip’, please email enquiries@arieslpm.com.
Have a great weekend!
From, The Lady in the Blue Trousers™️👖
(aka Kirsty Pappin | LinkedIn )
* These are personal recommendations and are not included on request.