Compliance & Regulation
Complaints about claims management companies continue to fall
The number of complaints about claims management companies continues to fall, the Financial Ombudsman Service says as it consider charging professional representatives to make one.
Government approves increase in SRA’s fining power to £25,000
The government has today approved the increase in the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s fining power, from £2,000 to £25,000, despite opposition from the profession.
Barrister reprimanded for “bullying and aggressive” emails
A non-practising barrister who wrote “bullying and aggressive” emails to a group supporting people with autoinflammatory conditions has been reprimanded by a disciplinary tribunal.
Firm fined for inadequate anti-money laundering controls
A law firm in Telford whose multiple failures raised the risk of it facilitating money laundering and terrorist financing has been fined by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Law firm owner rebuked for caseworker supervision failure
A solicitor who failed to supervise an immigration caseworker in a matter which led the High Court to refer his firm to the Solicitors Regulation Authority has been rebuked.
Greens urge disciplinary action against lawyer MPs over rule of law threats
The Green Party has called for disciplinary action against solicitor and barrister MPs who vote for legislation which disregards the rule of law.
Traditional partnerships dying out as ABSs top 1,000
The traditional partnership is now the least popular form of law firm structure, while alternative business structures now make up more than 10% of all practices, new figures have shown.
BSB prosecutions of striking barristers “unlikely to succeed”
The Bar Standards Board would be “ill advised” to take disciplinary action against barristers who take part in the strike action over legal aid rates, as dozens of QCs complain about the Lord Chief Justice.
Lord Chief Justice and BSB warn striking barristers of disciplinary risks
The Bar Standards Board has told striking barristers that it will focus in particular on any harm caused, following the Lord Chief Justice’s warning that their actions may amount to misconduct
SRA seeks whistleblowing role as part of SLAPPs action
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is set to make it easier for law firm staff to blow the whistle on their employers, as part of its work on SLAPPs – of which it is investigating more than 20.
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”.
