Compliance & Regulation
Trio of solicitors sanctioned for conveyancing firm misconduct
A solicitor whose misconduct included using client money to help his firm with cash flow difficulties has been struck off, while two solicitors he hoodwinked have also been sanctioned.
New chair of LSB viewed single regulator for lawyers as “inevitable”
A vastly experienced regulator who once described the prospect of a single regulator for lawyers as “inevitable” has been named as the new chair of the Legal Services Board.
Solicitor struck off for lying over legal aid debt fails in appeal
A solicitor who lied about not having a bank account or any income other than benefits to avoid repaying a debt to the Legal Aid Agency has failed in his appeal against being struck off.
Crypto world opens up opportunities for solicitors, says SRA
Solicitors could improve their productivity by using distributed ledger technology but need to take care if a client wants to pay by cryptocurrency, the SRA has cautioned.
Barrister wins nine-year fight to overturn critical tribunal findings
The employment tribunal has set aside a ruling from 2014 that a former law firm director, now a barrister, was guilty of serious financial impropriety.
Solicitors may now avoid SDT for significant but inadvertent breaches
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s new fining powers mean that significant but inadvertent breaches need no longer be referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, the pair have agreed.
RAC employee convicted of passing accident data to claims companies
A former employee of breakdown company RAC has been convicted of stealing the data of victims of road traffic accidents, which he then passed on to claims management companies.
SRA to throw spotlight on incompetence in the profession
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to publish an annual competence report on the whole profession this summer, coupled with pro-actively targeting incompetent solicitors.
LeO bringing down backlog but will miss year-end target
The Legal Ombudsman closed more cases in the first nine months of its current year than it did in the whole of the previous 12 months – but is still behind schedule to slash its backlog.
Conveyancing fee-earner banned over £338,000 tax scam
A fee-earner who misappropriated at least £338,000 from her firm by making fraudulent land tax claims has been banned from the profession.
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.
