Compliance & Regulation
Solicitors to pay extra £13.5m to Law Society and SRA
Individual solicitors and their firms will have to pay an extra £13.5m to be regulated and represented in the coming year, it emerged today.
Small firms at heart of AML reports made by SRA
The Solicitors Regulation Authority reported transactions potentially involving money laundering worth over £75m to the National Crime Agency in the last financial year.
SRA granted civil restraint order against struck-off solicitor
The High Court has granted the Solicitors Regulation Authority an extended civil restraint order to stop a struck-off solicitor from taking further legal action against it.
Government commits to end barriers holding back CILEX lawyers
The Ministry of Justice has set out its vision of ensuring that “there are no unnecessary barriers preventing CILEX members progressing their careers”.
Ban for paralegal who lied on CV to get job at law firm
A paralegal who lied on his CV about his experience, signed a statutory declaration and held himself out as a solicitor has been banned from working in the profession.
Bar chief backs feminist barrister abused by other counsel
The chair of the Bar Council has spoken out in support of a feminist barrister who said yesterday that she has complained about abuse from more than 50 “mainly White male” barristers.
Ex-DLA partner avoids strike-off for trying to fake witness’s signature
A former equity partner at DLA Piper has avoided being struck off despite admitting to trying to fake a witness’s signature on a mortgage deed.
Solicitor struck off for lying about links with illegal money lender
A solicitor who lied to both his employer and his regulator by denying he had any kind of relationship with a convicted illegal money lender has been struck off.
LeO resolves record number of complaints in performance “step change”
The Legal Ombudsman has achieved the required step-change in performance in the last year, it has declared, with waiting times finally falling as 44% more cases were resolved.
New AML supervision regime for lawyers moves step closer
HM Treasury has launched a long-awaited consultation that could see a new public body replace legal regulators in supervising lawyers’ anti-money laundering activities.
Blog
Why this is the year for law firms to embrace generative AI
After more than a year of pilots, proofs of value and early experimentation, firms are increasingly embedding AI into day-to-day workflows.
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.
