Compliance & Regulation
BSB board members call for “radical thinking” on backlog
“Radical thinking” is needed by the Bar Standards Board to get a grip on the growing backlog of investigations and poor performance on timeliness, board members have said.
CLC warns on shutdowns after conveyancer abandons 15,000 files
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has warned firms about the importance of proper file storage and data retention, after a licensed conveyancer abandoned 15,000 archived files.
Bar Council and Law Society unhappy with LSB’s oversight reforms
The Bar Council and Law Society have attacked proposed Legal Services Board changes to way it assesses frontline regulators’ performance.
Solicitor jailed in Germany for role in VAT carousel fraud struck off
A solicitor convicted in Germany of seven counts of aiding and abetting tax evasion as part of a VAT carousel fraud has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
BSB to probe if solicitors give clients choice when instructing barristers
The Bar Standards Board is to gather evidence from solicitors on how they choose a barrister, including whether they offer their clients a choice – or even take account of a client’s views.
Solicitor judge misappropriated £288,000 from law firms
A head of commercial property and deputy district judge has been struck off for taking over £288,000 from two Essex law firms and their clients over a period of 16 years.
Partner who used client’s estate to buy a house struck off
A solicitor who used money from a client’s estate to buy a house he then lived in has been struck off, with the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal saying the public would be “horrified” by his actions.
CILEX calls in ex-LSB chief as it considers whether to change regulator
CILEX has commissioned Chris Kenny, the original chief executive of the Legal Services Board, to review whether it should continue delegating its regulatory responsibilities to CILEx Regulation.
LSB approves scrapping of Bar student aptitude test
The Bar Standards Board can go ahead with its plan to scrap the Bar course aptitude test, the Legal Services Board has decided – even though it may have led to a fall in course failure rates.
Insurance and client capability are “main barriers” to unbundling
The availability of professional indemnity insurance and the capability of clients are the main concerns for law firms looking at unbundled services, research has indicated.
Blog
The SRA needs to admit it got it wrong about SLAPPs
The High Court judgment in Ashley Hurst v SRA in January raises serious questions about the regulator’s approach to allegations of SLAPP-like behaviour.
Why menopause support belongs on every law firm’s agenda
Progression in the law slows significantly as women approach senior leadership. Most will be at the height of their careers around the average age menopause symptoms begin.
Law firms need to go beyond document checks
At the root of every failed compliance review is a familiar phrase: a calm assertion of “but we did a document check”.
