Compliance & Regulation
Solicitor took advantage of deceased lawyer’s vulnerable widow
An experienced solicitor has been struck off for taking advantage of the widow of a deceased solicitor after being instructed to wind up his practice and deal with his estate.
Post Office scandal inquiry to put conduct of lawyers under spotlight
The lead counsel to the Post Office Horizon Inquiry last week made clear that the role of lawyers, “some of them senior”, will be put under scrutiny in the coming months.
Lawyers need to redraw ethical boundaries “or face external action”
The legal profession is “drawing the ethical boundaries in the wrong place” in its dealings with corrupt kleptocrats and oligarchs, and risks having reforms imposed on it as a result.
Lawyers “not listening” to ethnic minority clients
Many ethnic minority consumers of legal services do not feel they are being listened to or understood by their lawyers, research for the Legal Services Consumers Panel has found.
Firm rebuked for acting on both sides of property transaction
A law firm which acted for both sides in a property transaction without obtaining their consent has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
LSB launches investigation into dispute between CILEX and its regulator
The Legal Services Board has launched an investigation into the disputes between CILEX and its regulatory arm, saying there has been a “breakdown of trust” between the two.
Legal 500 entries, eBay and air miles – bans for City law firm staff
A senior business development executive who misled her law firm employer that its Legal 500 submissions had been made is among bans from the profession issued to City firm staff.
Grand National fraudster struck off as a solicitor
A solicitor convicted of seven counts of fraud, involving goods worth £10,600 – including fireworks and tickets for the Grand National – has been struck off.
SRA earmarks £550,000 for one-off cost-of-living payment to staff
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has put aside up to £550,000 to give staff a one-off pay boost to help with the cost-of-living crisis, it has emerged.
SRA struggling to keep hold of anti-money laundering staff
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is facing “challenges” in retaining staff in its anti-money laundering team, in part because it cannot compete with private sector salaries.
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.
