Compliance & Regulation
Licensed conveyancer disqualified for “pattern” of dishonesty
A licensed conveyancer who lied to a client and fabricated a letter to him, lied to her law firm about it and then lied again to her regulator has been disqualified for 10 years.
Suspension for barrister who lied to client over binned files
A direct access barrister who lied to a client over files that were accidentally destroyed by his chambers has been suspended for six months by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.
Court orders law firm and partners to repay loans from couple
The High Court has ruled that a law firm and four of its former partners must repay money borrowed under loan agreements with a husband and his wife.
SRA anti-money laundering blitz continues with £76k in fines
The Solicitors Regulation Authority blitz on breaches of anti-money laundering rules has continued, with more than £76,000 in fines handed out to a solicitor and four law firms.
Suspended sentence for struck-off solicitor who misused client funds
A solicitor who used a client’s £132,000 divorce settlement to pay off her tax bill and give money to her daughter has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
SLAPPs review: Law firms show signs of improved behaviour
Law firms’ conduct of cases involving privacy and reputation appears to have improved over the past 18 months, according to new research by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Sunak promises ministerial action over SSB Law collapse
The collapse of SSB Law and impact on its former clients came to the attention of Rishi Sunak this week after it was raised at Prime Minister’s Questions.
People becoming less likely to seek professional help with legal issues
People facing legal problems are becoming less likely to seek professional help and, even when they do, are slowly turning away from solicitors, major new research has found.
Solicitor who lied to clients about progress of litigation is struck off
A solicitor who lied to litigation clients about sending pre-action protocol letters and failed to tell one of them about a costs offer until it expired has been struck off.
“Myopic interpretation” of client’s best interests led PO lawyers astray
A “myopic interpretation of acting in the client’s best interests” is one of the reasons why lawyers who acted for the Post Office crossed lines, a barrister acting for sub-postmasters has suggested.
“Actually, you passed” – 175 SQE candidates let down by marking error
All 6,626 candidates who took the SQE1 in January have had their results reissued after marking errors meant 175 who thought they had failed actually passed.
Barrister jailed for drug offences fails in appeal against sentence
The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal against the 14-month jail sentence imposed on a barrister who obtained drugs from two men he was representing.
£105k for two days a week: SRA begins search for new chair
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has begun the search for a new chair for its board, who will be paid £105,000 a year for around two days a week.
Legal Services Board to probe SRA over SSB Group collapse
The Legal Services Board is to probe the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s actions in the lead-up to the collapse of SSB Group, it has announced.
SDT refuses to overturn ban on ex-law firm employee over missing cash
A man whose parents granted a charge over their house to repay the £90,000 misappropriated from his law firm employer has failed to overturn a ban on working in the profession.