More than 2,000 serious criminal cases thrown out 11 March 2008 The Times

More than 2,000 serious criminal cases thrown out after prosecutors were not ready.

More than 2,000 cases that should have gone to trial in the Crown Court were thrown out last year because they were not ready, a watchdog says today.

The cases involve serious offences including burglary, theft, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of drugs and possession with intent to supply drugs.

The inspectors of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) say today in their report on the performance of the service that even though this throw-out rate is better than it was, it remains poor. In total 2,325 cases were lost because prosecutors were not ready to proceed.

Church organists are employees 21 February 2008

Church organists have full employment rights, rules an Employment Tribunal. Of the 30,000 practising church organists in Britain around 100 are full-time. Most have other jobs and can expect to take home about £40 per week from their organ work.

Traditionally the courts have treated people working for the church, including vicars, as people with a calling but recent decisions have moved away from that idea and regard those involved with the churches on a paid basis as having full employment rights.

Solicitors hit for £30 million 20th February 2008 Law Society Gazette 14th February 2008

Kerry Underwood, interviewed in the Law Society Gazette, criticized the now lawful practice of solicitors paying referral fees to insurance companies and the RAC and AA.

Solicitors firms are paying £700 or more for each road traffic case.

Kerry Underwood said:

“The key issue still remains and that is whether referral fees are appropriate. My view is that they are not. What you.....lose is what is actually valuable about the rule of law, independence, the people who will fight.....”

The interview came as news emerged that 600 firms of solicitors associated with The Accident Group are to pay back an average of £50,000.00 each in relation to illegal referral fees and other matters.

Underwoods Solicitors does not pay for work.

Underwoods appointed to Headway list 8 February 2008

Underwoods has been appointed as a member of Headway's Personal Injury Solicitors list 2008 after assessment by Headway as meeting the necessary criteria for inclusion.

Headway, the Brain Injury Association is a leading charity that supports people affected by brain injury.

www.headway.org.uk

Victory for miners 8 February 2008 The Times

Law firms that grew rich by exloiting sick miners are to be forced to repay tens of millions of pounds that they wrongly sliced from their clients' compensation.

Online Payments

Underwoods are one of the first solicitors in the UK to accept payments online. Senior partner Kerry Underwood - "Our aim is to eliminate the use of cheques by the end of 2008".

Manchester United Supporters Trust

Underwoods instructed by Manchester United Supporters Trust over ongoing dispute with Manchester United Football Club over season ticket prices.

Underwoods to go electronic 9 March 2007

Underwoods Solicitors have announced that all clients are to have the option of having 24-7 secure electronic access to their files, with every piece of work done on the file to be notified to the client by immediate email alert. It is believed to be the first law firm in the world to offer automatic email notification. Senior Partner Kerry Underwood said:

“Clients are entitled to know what is going on – it is the client’s case not the solicitors. We already set the standard for client care - now we will set the standard for keeping clients informed.”

Underwoods profiled on The Lawyer.com

Click here to read the Underwoods profile on The Lawyer.com website

Kerry Underwood pioneers offshoring

Click on articles to read more..

Pioneering solicitor claims offshore work will revolutionise the profession – Gazette 23 June 2005

Passage to India - Gazette 23 June 2005

When outsourcing outstrips itself - Gazette 23 June 2005