Compliance & Regulation
SRA refers firms handling matters worth £149m to crime agency
The Solicitors Regulation Authority made 20 suspicious activity reports to the National Crime Agency in the past year, relating to solicitors handling £149m of potentially criminal funds.
Fine for complaints partner who “frustrated” Legal Ombudsman
The complaints partner at a West Midlands law firm who “frustrated the Legal Ombudsman in carrying out its function” by failing to respond to requests, has been fined £4,000.
Firm fined for long-term anti-money laundering compliance failures
A law firm that was non-compliant with the anti-money laundering rules for three years has been fined for showing “a disregard for statutory and regulatory obligations”.
High Court denies rights of audience to disbarred barrister
The High Court has denied rights of audience to a disbarred barrister jailed for a bomb hoax at the London Olympics, which would have allowed him to represent a prisoner in habeas corpus proceedings.
BSB urged to act on “online misogyny” aimed at female barristers
The Bar Standards Board needs to highlight the link between online misogyny and female barristers who speak out on issues affecting women in the law, a campaigning group has argued.
Independent barristers’ review “contributed to Post Office cover-up”
An independent review by a leading public law silk into possible miscarriages of justice caused by the Post Office computer system “was used to, and in some ways contributed to, a cover-up”.
Solicitor who certified LPAs “as a favour” is fined £6,000
A criminal defence solicitor who said he certified two lasting powers of attorney “as a favour” for an elderly client has been fined £6,000 for failing to make the necessary checks.
Solicitor was “manifestly incompetent” in advice to elderly client
A solicitor has admitted manifest incompetence in failing to advise a 92-year-old client to refuse a £60,000 engagement ring and £35,000 car in part-payment of the property he was selling.
LSB to consider “alternative configurations” of reserved legal activities
The Legal Services Board is to undertake a “first-principles analysis” of the list of reserved legal activities to consider “potential alternative configurations”.
LSB plans to make it easier for clients to complain to their lawyers
Stronger rules on how clients are informed about their right to complain, and ensuring verbal expressions of dissatisfaction are treated as complaints, are set to be introduced next year.
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.
