Compliance & Regulation
Long way to go – SRA unveils “unacceptable” ethnicity profile
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has a “long way to go” to improve the diversity of its senior management, it said as it published its ethnicity pay gap for the first time.
PII: Legal Services Board targets “balance” between public and profession
The Legal Services Board this week approved projects to improve the way regulators approach financial protection for consumers, as well as discipline and enforcement.
Legislate to help legal regulators deal with sanctions busters, Raab told
The Legal Services Board has told the government that “there is a strong case for legislating” to ensure legal regulators have the powers to stop lawyers breaking sanctions imposed by the UK.
Legal regulators “need to do more” in dealing with SLAPPs
Legal regulators need to do more to deal with SLAPPs – strategic lawsuits against public participation – because they are undermining the profession’s reputation, a report has argued.
“Ground down” veteran barrister fined for direct access offences
A veteran barrister has been fined £4,250 by a Bar disciplinary tribunal for carrying out litigation without authorisation and handling client money on behalf of a direct access client.
Conveyancing firms “must apply” for PII two months before deadline
Firms of licensed conveyancers will have to apply for professional indemnity insurance two months ahead of the renewal deadline and in return will receive a response within four weeks.
Mayson: Legal regulation failing to prevent consumer harm
Legal regulation is not protecting consumers from harm – both in their inability to access services and when things go wrong – meaning structural reform is more urgent than ever.
Personal injury ABS bosses fined for undeclared ATE commissions
Two managers of a collapsed personal injury law firm have each been fined £18,000 for failing to declare commissions earned by a connected business which provided clients with ATE insurance.
Sophie Khan to face 11 charges at disciplinary tribunal
Details of the disciplinary case the Solicitors Regulation Authority will make against Sophie Khan – who was jailed for contempt after failing to give it her firm’s papers – were published yesterday.
Solicitor struck off for lying about existence of key evidence
A solicitor specialising in actions against the police who failed to disclose the existence of a warrant to counsel and the court has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
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”.
