Compliance & Regulation
CMA launches investigation into unregulated legal services
The Competition & Markets Authority has returned to the legal market and launched an investigation into unregulated will-writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate services.
Dentons to face disciplinary tribunal over AML “failures”
The world’s largest law firm is to be prosecuted before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over alleged breaches of anti-money laundering rules.
“Risk of conflicting duties” in following SRA Proceeds of Crime Act guidance
Solicitors need to tread carefully in applying new Solicitors Regulation Authority guidance on the Proceeds of Crime Act as they could find themselves in conflict with existing obligations.
PII premiums rises to be lower than last year, says Law Society research
Professional indemnity insurance premiums will rise again this year but by less than in 2022, when it was 12% across the market, Law Society research has predicted.
SRA probes dozens of firms over bulk compensation claims
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been carrying out dozens of investigations into possible misconduct in bulk compensation claims, particularly around cavity wall insulation.
Drink-driving barrister cannot return to practice until “medically fit”
A barrister twice convicted of drink driving cannot return to practice for six months and only then with evidence that she is “medically fit”, a Bar disciplinary tribunal has decided.
CILEx Regulation claims support for retaining role
CILEx Regulation has claimed support for remaining the regulator of chartered legal executives from its recent consultation on how the present system can work better.
Diesel claim clients unhappy as firm corrects fees “error” in paperwork
Class action firm Pogust Goodhead has had to write to the 1.8m clients of its MyDieselClaim brand to correct a “typographical error” in its paperwork about the cap on its fees.
Legal profession “five years behind the curve” on diversity
The legal profession is “five years behind the curve” on diversity and inclusion and has “only in recent times” appreciated just how unequal access is, the chief executive of the LSB has said.
SQE will not “deliver on diversity” in current form
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination will not “deliver a more diverse profession in its current shape”, the founder of a campaign to achieve equality for women in the law has said.
Blog
The new metrics for success in conveyancing
While technology has made much of the conveyancing process faster, there remains a practical limit to how many matters anyone can manage while still keeping standards intact.
The UK legal market is polarising – and the middle is disappearing
Consolidation and the boutique boom are not contradictory. They are the same market stretching apart at both ends – and it changes what your firm is worth, and to whom.
Conveyancing’s consistency problem is about pressure, not skills
When I qualified, a conveyancer had perhaps 10 or 12 plates to keep spinning. Today’s conveyancers have 20 or 30, and almost none of the room for error I had starting out.
Reports
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