Compliance & Regulation
Barrister misled court into removing child from father
A non-practising barrister whose dishonest submissions to a court caused it to order the removal of a small child from her father has been disbarred.
Blavo to face SDT at last over huge legal aid fraud
The boss of Blavo & Co – the major legal aid firm found by the High Court to have made fraudulent claims on public funds – will finally face the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal this month.
Tribunal lifts condition on solicitor “manipulated” by timeshare scheme
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has lifted a condition on a former law firm boss who admitted she had “permitted herself to be manipulated” by a timeshare scheme.
Partner ignored SRA’s warning over providing banking facilities
A partner who ignored a warning letter from the SRA telling him not to use his client account as a banking facility, which he then did, has been fined £10,000.
SDT lifts restrictions on twice-fined solicitor despite SRA objection
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has lifted practising conditions on the former partner of a law firm whom it has twice fined, latterly £20,000 for “very serious misconduct”.
Partner’s trainee supervision failure aided “property hijacks”
The boss of a Manchester law firm has been fined £12,500 for failing to supervise his trainee properly in conveyancing transactions that “bore the hallmarks of property hijacks”.
Solicitor instructed and paid by clients without telling firm
An immigration solicitor who misappropriated £31,500 of his law firm’s fees by failing to record clients and then pocketing their fees has been struck off.
Manifestly incompetent solicitor fined for role in “secret sale”
A solicitor who facilitated a “secret, snap sale of inheritance property” after which the seller absconded to Morocco with proceeds to which he was not entitled has been fined for missing multiple warning signs.
Home Office “monitoring” immigration lawyers for regulatory breaches
The Home Office is keeping watch on immigration practitioners to ensure they are regulated and not breaching their obligations, it has emerged.
Law firm “colluded” with medics and others to layer PI claim
The Solicitors Regulation Authority should investigate a personal injury firm involved in “layering” a claim with further costs, given evidence that this is a pattern of behaviour..
Blog
On good authority? GenAI and the reputational risks to law firms
As GenAI’s influence grows, so do the risks which are already playing out in courtrooms across England and Wales, where some early adopters are setting precedents they would rather not.
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.
