Compliance & Regulation
Good first year for SQE but market confidence needs building
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination was implemented well in its first year but has still to win over training providers, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has found.
Minority of in-house lawyers face ethical challenges, SRA finds
In-house lawyers are generally able to withstand pressures on their independence but a minority report demands to act unethically, according to Solicitors Regulation Authority research.
Solicitor fined for arranging loans of £1.8m between clients
A solicitor has been fined for arranging 47 loans between clients – one of which was his own late mother’s estate – totalling almost £1.8m, many of which were made without written agreement or security.
Barrister jailed for defrauding his own grandmother disbarred
A barrister jailed for fraudulently using his grandmother’s bank account and bank card to withdraw cash and transfer funds to himself has been disbarred.
“Manifestly incompetent” solicitor missed red flags on dubious deals
An experienced solicitor who failed to react to a series of red flags on two dubious property sales has admitted to being manifestly incompetent. He and his supervisor were fined.
Khan receives second jail term for SRA order contempt
Former solicitor Sophie Khan is heading to jail for a second time for contempt of court after again failing to hand over documents sought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Unregulated paralegal firm “conducted litigation” in possession claim
A CILEX member running an unregulated business conducted litigation in breach of the Legal Services Act 2007 when she acted on a possession claim, the High Court has ruled.
Solicitor kept £60,000 of client funds as cash in firm’s safe
A solicitor who kept £60,000 of client funds in cash in the firm’s safe has been banned indefinitely from managing law firms.
New Zealand urged to embrace ABSs and independent regulation
A review of legal services in New Zealand has recommended the introduction of alternative business structures and an independent regulator.
Solicitor lost £230k of client money after falling for investment scam
A solicitor who lost £230,000 of a client’s money by moving it into her personal bank account and then investing in a scheme which turned out to be a scam has been struck off.
Blog
How does the legal profession become neuroinclusive?
My learning journey as mum to an autistic son with profound additional needs completely changed the way in which I work as a child protection lawyer.
The real cure for inequality at law firms? Listening
How can men, as one male panellist put it, “get out of the way of people coming up through the ranks?”
Most of these conversations only happen after the men leave the room.
Andy Burnham and the Hillsborough Law: should solicitors be worried?
Now that Andy Burnham has become prime minister, the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, otherwise known as the Hillsborough Law, will receive a real boost of political capital.
