Meet the editor at large, independent solicitors and leading industry figures

Solicitors Journal's flagship event returns to help you make law a successful business

Today's independent solicitor has a lot to keep up with. The legal landscape is moving quickly and on top of masses of reading, there's the business side to content with, not to mention financial stability.

The wrath of Mitchell, for example, can affect anyone. "From the top 200 downwards, nobody escapes post-Mitchell litigation culture, and it's probably more important for small to medium-size firms to take all the recent changes on board in order to keep pace with them," says Master Haworth, costs judge at the Supreme Court Costs Office.

"In the post-Mitchell landscape, where mistakes cost or can cost practitioners
a substantial amount of their own money, it's important that solicitors keep up to date with developments in cost law, cost budgeting at the cost rules and practice directions."

Master Haworth will deliver an update on civil litigation costs at this year's SJ Live. It is one discipline of many discussed across the two-day conference, which returns following the success of last year's debut event, where delegates praised its "continuously interesting talks" and "fantastic location and management".

The event will consist of ten streams covering property (residential and commercial), family, private client, personal injury, employment, criminal law, litigation and contract and commercial.

Kevin Poulter, SJ's new editor at large, will make the keynote speech and wants to meet the readers to gauge what advice and further guidance is essential to deliver practical and effective support to the profession.

"SJ Live provides a unique opportunity for all members of the profession to come together, share ideas and experiences and learn from a hugely talented panel of speakers," he says.

Solicitors in small to medium-size firms have told us that they benefited from the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals, and discuss and share the current pressures facing the industry.

The event is specifically tailored for the SJ community and offers CPD points. It will takes place at the Emirates Stadium in London on 18 and 19 June. The team look forward to seeing you there.

www.sjeventslive.com

SJ Live is kindly sponsored by Accutech Ltd, the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, the Intellectual Property Office, Miller Insurance, Searches UK and the Intellectual Property Office and Wesleyan

 

PI and litigation: session previews "Accidents abroad involving English nationals and accidents in England involving foreign nationals are on the increase. Consequently, the various matters in liability claims involving cross-border accidents continue to confuse many practitioners in terms of the country that an injured party can bring their claim in and, secondly, which law will apply to the issues in the claim. "The session that I am planning to cover at SJ Live in June will hopefully unravel some of these complexities and provide clear and comprehensive advice for practitioners as to how to approach such claims in a methodical way. "I am hoping that by the end of the session people will go away with a clear understanding of all the issues in these claims, including those of jurisdiction and applicable law, but also understanding the impact of the Motor Insurance Directives and Rome II. "SJ Live provides a great opportunity for practitioners at all levels to come together and share ideas and their experiences from practice, and to meet other like-minded people and build their professional networks across the community." Claire Bowler is partner and head of the international claims team at DWF. She will speak at the personal injury stream taking place on day one ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mediation remains an essential step in the litigation process. Of course, if all goes well, it will be the final step and after an arduous day the clients will emerge with a settlement agreement. "No-one seriously doubts the value of mediation and an offer or agreement to mediate is no longer seen a sign of weakness. However, there are still big questions to answer. "In my seminar I will be discussing when is the best time to mediate and how you should prepare to mediate; what is the best way of preparing the client and what are the cost consequences of refusing to mediate; when can you properly refuse to mediate and what happens when it all goes wrong, as well as the interrelationship between mediation and part 36 offers. "The seminar will also provide an update on case law relating to mediation." John de Waal QC is a barrister practising at Hardwicke. He will speak at the civil litigation stream taking place on day two