Compliance & Regulation
LSB “must force” Legal Ombudsman to publish decisions in full
The Legal Services Board must take “a more proactive stance” in making the Legal Ombudsman publish complaint outcomes in full, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has argued.
BSB eyes targets to improve diversity of senior staff
Nearly half of staff at the Bar Standards Board are now from ethnic minority backgrounds but it is looking at targets to improve the diversity of its management.
Formal warning for judge who had sex in chambers
A recorder who had sex in his judicial chambers over 15 years ago has been given a formal warning for misconduct.
Ban for Co-op estate planner over LPA dishonesty
An estate planning consultant at Co-operative Legal Services who falsely confirmed that he had witnessed the signatures on a lasting power of attorney has been banned.
PE in the law expands to Sweden as six firms join new group
Private equity in the law expanded to Sweden yesterday with the launch of AGRD Partners, a new group formed by six firms and backed by a Nordic investment house.
SRA shuts down nine-partner firm over solicitor’s suspected dishonesty
The Solicitors Regulation Authority yesterday shut down two law firms – including a nine-partner practice in Yorkshire – due to the suspected dishonesty of a solicitor.
Law firm owner rebuked for work of non-solicitor caseworker
A law firm owner has been rebuked after the Upper Tribunal declared an application for judicial review made by an immigration caseworker at his firm as totally without merit.
Solicitor who employed banned will writer is suspended
A solicitor who employed a will writer banned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority from working for law firms without its permission has been suspended for a month.
SRA rebukes Scottish firm over management of client money
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued a rebuke to a Scottish law firm for breaches of the accounts rules since taking over the work of collapsed McClure Solicitors.
MoJ warned about impact of diverting law firms’ client account interest
Legal aid firms will be the first to suffer if the Ministry of Justice presses ahead with the idea of using interest on lawyers’ client accounts to fund free legal services, it has been told.
Blog
Amplifying reach through employee-driven thought leadership
Nine in 10 executives believe thought leadership is critical to building authority, yet only a quarter feel they have implemented a robust strategy.
Divorce escrow: asset sales before final settlement
When significant matrimonial assets are sold before a final financial order is agreed, holding the proceeds safely and neutrally can present real practical challenges.
AML lacks clarity – and standards are suffering
If firms are buckling under the pressure of AML regulations, subject to ever-increasing fines, then something is clearly not working as it should be.
