Amy Bell

The article from House and Home Sitters UK provides answers to frequently asked questions about their services. Key points include: - **How Problems Are Handled**: House sitters are trained to handle domestic issues and care for pets as if they were their own. They are respectful of privacy and can manage contingencies. - **Responsibilities**: Sitters are expected to live in the home, handle mail and phone calls, care for pets, and perform occasional odd jobs. They are also encouraged to enjoy the amenities of the home and the company of pets. - **Advertising and Quotations**: The company advertises on the internet and social media, and offers free quotations to homeowners. Once an agreement is made, it is binding. - **Privacy**: The privacy of homeowners and their families is paramount, and personal details are disclosed to sitters only after they have been appointed to the assignment. - **Rating System**: The company does not have a rating system for house sitters or homeowners, instead relying on independent reviews on platforms like Facebook, Trustpilot, and Google. - **Support**: The company provides support to its sitters and emphasizes the importance of trust and clear communication between clients and sitters. Overall, the article highlights the company's focus on privacy, professionalism, and the positive experiences that homeowners and sitters can have through their services.

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Hot on the heels of reports from the Charity Commission that it opened over 600 fraud-related cases and almost 100 cyber crime cases last year, it has published refreshed guidance to assist charity trustees to better safeguard their charities from these risks. The refreshed guidance is intended to be easier to use and more practical. I am also pleased to see the Commission emphasising the importance of creating an internal culture of fraud and cyber crime awareness. Putting policies in place is never enough - if you do not cultivate a culture within your charity where people are alert to the risks, care about protecting the charity and its assets, and feel empowered to question something that doesn't look right, your policies are not worth the paper they're written on! The new guidance is definitely worth a look. The cyber security guidance also includes useful links to other resources available from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). #charity #cybercrime #fraudawareness #charityfraud #charities #charityfraudawarenessweek #charitycommission

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Legal firms: it's time to bolster your cyber security. Read our guide 💼

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New NCSC Report Highlights Cyber Security Risks for the UK Legal Sector: Are You Prepared? The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has just released an updated report shedding light on the increasing cyber security threats facing the UK legal sector. Key Findings: 🔍 Legal firms are prime targets for cyber criminals due to the sensitive data they handle and the significant financial transactions they facilitate. 🔍 Threats range from ransomware attacks by criminals to intellectual property theft by nation-states. 🔍 The widespread adoption of hybrid working has exacerbated these risks, making secure data management and robust cyber security measures more crucial than ever. C-STEM’s Recommendations: 💡 Follow NCSC’s Guidance 💡 Enhance Cyber Resilience 💡 Regular Training 💡 Incident Response Plan Read more from the full report below. https://lnkd.in/exseP273 #cybersecurity #legal #cyberresilience #CSTEMDCR #ZTA #smartservices

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We always assume organisations default position is to protect their data and by association, cyber resilience should be a priority. Sadly, it seems we still have a long way to go to embed data protection and security into our core business activities. With government moving towards guidance and the notion of "security by design" we're seeing a significant gap relating to organisations determining what is good enough. This is where certifications help as they provide a roadmap of good practice and via the certification process, verification. For the legal sector, look to LOCS:23 and ISO 27001 which as a pair work very well together. LOCS:23 is an ICO approved GDPR Certification Scheme (ADISA is the certifying body and working with UKAS at present) so compliance to UK GDPR can be verified, and ISO 27001 is the best utilitarian security certification available provide a roadmap for organisations to build security into business as usual. https://lnkd.in/dDSWkgNT

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Legal firms: it's time to bolster your cyber security. Read our guide 💼

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Legal firms are increasingly targeted by cyber threats, putting sensitive client information at risk. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has recently urged legal firms to bolster their cybersecurity measures to protect against these evolving threats. At Bondgate IT, we specialize in providing robust cybersecurity solutions tailored to the unique needs of legal practices. Our services are designed to help you comply with the latest NCSC guidance and safeguard your firm's critical data. Why Choose Bondgate IT? Comprehensive risk assessments Advanced threat detection and response Secure data management solutions Ongoing monitoring and support Don't leave your firm's security to chance. Partner with Bondgate IT to ensure your cybersecurity strategy is as strong as your legal expertise. Learn more about how we can help protect your firm: www.bondgate.co.uk #CyberSecurity #LegalTech #DataProtection #BondgateIT #NCSC #LegalFirms

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📢 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗥𝗔 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 The SRA has issued a statement, outlining why it should be allowed to regulate legal executives. The regulator believes the change would: ✅ Simplify the legal regulatory landscape ✅ Make it easier for consumers to navigate the system ✅ Provide more consistent levels of protection for consumers ✅ Increase efficiency within the profession. 𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁? The CILEX board will meet on 16 July to discuss the proposal, before it is passed to the LSB for review. The SRA then requires the Law Society’s approval for the changes, but it currently opposes the move, arguing that: ❎ The consumer case for change has not been made ❎ The change will cause consumer confusion ❎ Confusion is likely to be a “particular problem for those with complex legal issues, or vulnerable consumers”. Find out more 👉 https://lnkd.in/dV2u6kbV #LegalExecutives #LawGazette #SRA

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Download Dye & Durham UK latest e-book for an easy-to-use guide on managing the business side of your law firm. Inside you’ll find: 🎯key industry insight about how other law firms operate 🎯breakdown of the benefits of practice management systems 🎯potential pitfalls if you don't have one Get your free copy: https://bit.ly/3ZJfZYG

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Discover how to overcome the common client and matter risk assessment pitfalls most SME face in the final part of our three-part guide. You'll hear from compliance experts from DG LEGAL, ILFM (The Institute of Legal Finance & Management) The Law Factory LLP and Teal Compliance on their top tips and advice to staying compliant including: - How to utilise tech to mitigate risk - How to ensure a culture of compliance - Advice on embedding ongoing monitoring And much more… https://lnkd.in/e8VzvaZP #praccticemanagement #compliance #SRA #riskassessment #legaltech #lawfirm #COLP

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Litigation funding: to finance or assign a claim? Litigation funding in its widest sense simply means exploring all options to fund the various costs of litigating a matter to trial, enforcement & final recovery. Those options can include the following; https://lnkd.in/esAC3MNX

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Thanks to everyone that joined Rachel Lawson and me today for our Brodies LLP Spring 2024 Data Protection Law Update webinar. We're well used to draft bills, guidance and court decisions dropping the day before our Data Protection Update webinar and having to re-write or add new sections, but this is the first time I've been checking Twitter for the latest status on something as we start rolling! Anyway, given that the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill is not on the business list for the Lords today or tomorrow it looks like it will not make the wash-up before Parliament is dissolved and will therefore fall. The #DPDIB has had a tortured existence - first introduced in July 2022, pulled hours before its second reading in September 2022, re-announced b y the Secretary of State in October 2022, reintroduced to Parliament as a new bill in March 2023 and now looking like falling just a few steps short of completing its passage through Parliament. While many of the headline changes around less prescriptive regulation were unlikely to lead to organisations changing their existing compliance frameworks, there were some useful clarifications in it. The new Senior Responsible Individual regime would also have been welcomed by many organisations as a more pragmatic way of managing responsibility for data protection compliance. That's particularly the case for small public authorities and some charities that are required to have a DPO but have struggled to balance the requirements that a DPO be free from conflict and have a direct reporting line into senior management with their organisational structure and the resources that they have available to appoint someone with the necessary expertise. What do you think?

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Do you work in a compliance team of a law firm? Then what are you doing at 12? Why not join Kate Burt and myself for another Compliance for Law Firms session? Today Kate and Gavin Ball from HiveRisk will be talking about SRA AML audits and what to expect. It’s going to be an interesting conversation. If you have had a recent audit, come along and share your experiences. If you have not had one recently, come along so you know what to expect! See you at 12. If you are not yet in the group, just get in touch with either myself or Kate for details how to join.

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Join Jack Harding, Ian Clarke and Anirudh Mandagere next Thursday, 2nd May for Data Protection Claims - A busy practitioner's guide. This webinar will focus on key principles and pitfalls in claims involving data protection and information rights, as well as providing a summary of recent developments in the law. They will be discussing de minimis and assessment of damages, jurisdictional matters and the relevant framework under DPA 1998 and 2018. They will also provide an update on recent cases. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gb3TJ6sz #webinar #dataprotection 

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Sponsor Licence Compliance Checklist ☑️ I’ve received a fair amount of requests from clients asking for a simple way to manage compliance, so I've decided to put together a Sponsor Compliance Checklist that covers the key areas you need to stay on top of — without the overwhelming jargon. It’s practical, straightforward, and designed to help you keep your licence in good standing. 👉 Want a copy? First, make sure you're connected with me so I can send it directly to your inbox. Then, comment "Compliance" under this post, and I’ll make sure you receive it. #sponsorlicence #compliance #ukimmigration

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What are the key aims of our consumer protection review? 🎯 consumers appropriately protected when using a regulated firm 🎯 public confidence and trust in legal sector is maintained 🎯 a competitive, dynamic legal market that enables consumer choice We don't yet have the answers, but we are asking the fundamental questions. We want to hear as many views as possible, find out more and let us know what you think here: https://bit.ly/4c24fo3

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