Compliance & Regulation
Is our compliance officer actually complying?
By Sarah Charlton of BlueSky Legal Finance & Management Solutions In the first of a new monthly ‘Ask the Expert’ series from Insight Legal, legal finance and management specialist Sarah Charlton considers a question many partners at smaller firms must… Read More
Bar chief: Legal Twitter pile-ons “getting out of hand”
The number of ‘pile-ons’ on legal Twitter is “getting out of hand”, the chairman of the Bar Council has argued ahead of the BSB looking to “tackle gendered bullying” in revised social media guidance.
Freezing order for disbarred barrister acting as McKenzie Friend
A one-time barrister disbarred in 2016 has had her assets frozen over allegations of misappropriating money from a client while acting as a McKenzie Friend.
Another leading City firm to face tribunal over alleged AML breaches
Leading City law firm Clyde & Co is to face the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for alleged breaches of the Money Laundering Regulations, the second big firm referred in a fortnight.
Fines for solicitor who misused client account and COFA who let him
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has handed substantial fines to a director who used his firm’s client account as a banking facility and the compliance officer who allowed it.
Government ramps up focus on “crooked” immigration lawyers
The government has upped its attacks on “crooked” immigration lawyers by unveiling a taskforce to increase enforcement action against those who help migrants exploit the system.
Suspended jail term for immigration adviser who posed as solicitor
A woman who falsely claimed to be a solicitor and provided immigration advice when not qualified to do so has been given an 18-month suspended sentence.
“Disgraceful” solicitor misled elderly woman over outstanding fees
A solicitor who misled an 89-year-old former client into giving him money she did not owe has been struck off for “disgraceful behaviour” capable of shattering public trust in the profession.
Law firms risk claims without safeguards for generative AI
Law firms must either introduce “safeguards that include human oversight” to authenticate AI-generated content or “expect an increased exposure” to negligence claims, a leading law firm has warned.
LSB set to recommend bigger fining powers for SRA and other regulators
The Legal Services Board is set to make a direct request to the government to increase the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s fining powers beyond the current £25,000 limit.
Blog
Client account interest is not spare change
The proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts scheme is being framed as a sensible, international, “tried and tested” way for the profession to help fund a justice system under strain.
The formula for finance-enabled business development
Client concentration or over-dependence now counts as a top strategic risk for 26% of firms. Cross-selling is an antidote – a way to bolster revenue resilience without relying on client acquisition.
Whistleblowing guidance for in-house lawyers – a call to arms
In-house lawyers are in a unique position to spot wrongdoing. But reporting it is not just potentially dangerous from a personal point of view.
