This Week in Law: London Salary Increases, Legal Complaints, Covid Frauds and More
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Consumer panel raises alarm over complaint awareness
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has expressed deep concern after its latest tracker survey revealed that many clients still don’t understand how to complain about poor service from lawyers.
- 51% of clients said they knew how to make a complaint.
- Only 48% of those would raise it with the law firm first, as required before going to the Legal Ombudsman.
- 28% were unsure, and 21% didn’t know how to complain at all.
- Reasons for not complaining included distrust, fear of costs rising, and difficulty contacting the firm.
The Panel supports an SRA proposal for firms to signpost complaint information at the end of a matter, not just the start, and has called for standardised complaints procedures across the sector. Now is the time to review how your firm presents complaints info to clients, particularly at matter conclusion, as regulatory expectations tighten.
Read more here.
DLA Piper joins NQ salary race with 18% London increase
DLA Piper has joined the City pay race, announcing an 18% salary increase for newly qualified solicitors in London. From September:
- London NQs will earn £130,000, up from £110,000.
- NQs in regional offices will receive £82,000, a 9.3% increase.
- Trainees in London will earn £52,000 (Year 1) and £57,000 (Year 2).
- Regional trainees will receive £35,500 (Year 1) and £39,000 (Year 2).
Law Gazette: DLA Piper increases NQ pay to £130,000
Rising NQ and trainee salaries may widen the gap between global and mid-market firms. Firms outside the City may need to focus on alternative attraction strategies like flexible working, training, or progression.
Spending Review: £29bn for NHS, £39bn for housing and defence uplift
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her first Spending Review, committing to major long-term investments in health, housing and defence:
- £29bn per year in additional NHS funding to reduce waiting times and modernise services.
- £39bn over 10 years for social housing, focused on new builds and renovation.
- Defence spending to rise to 2.6% of GDP by 2027, meeting NATO commitments.
MoneyWeek: Spending Review summary. These funding commitments could unlock new opportunities across healthcare, infrastructure and defence sectors.
Covid fraud convictions at risk after major legal oversight
Hundreds of Bounce Back Loan fraud cases could now be at risk after it emerged that officials gathering evidence did not have proper legal authority, according to a report obtained by The Times.
- The National Investigation Service (Natis), based at Thurrock Council, was found to have used investigators who lacked powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
- Only 3 out of 108 staff were legally authorised to investigate cases, and many had not completed required training.
- Evidence gathered may now be ruled inadmissible, and convictions secured so far could be challenged.
- Natis has since been shut down, and ongoing cases are being transferred to the Insolvency Service.
Read more on this here.
Getty vs Stability AI: landmark copyright trial begins in UK
Getty Images has taken Stability AI to court in what is likely the first major UK trial on generative AI and copyright.
- Getty alleges Stability used millions of its copyrighted images without permission to train Stable Diffusion.
- Stability AI argues the use was transformative and disputes UK jurisdiction.
- The case could define how copyright applies to training data in the UK and beyond.
Find out more in an article here. IP, tech and media lawyers will be monitoring this case closely-it could influence licensing, data use policies, and the legal limits of generative AI.
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