Compliance & Regulation
Barrister with council tax conviction fails in disbarment appeal
The High Court has rejected an appeal from a barrister disbarred after a council tax conviction and submission of dishonest evidence to a Crown Court.
Lack of accountability “damages authority” of in-house lawyers
The decision by the Financial Conduct Authority to exclude in-house lawyers from its senior managers and certification regime has damaged the authority they have in their organisations.
LSB calls for “urgency” in improving consumer information
The Legal Services Board has said it expects to see “a sense of pace and urgency” from regulators in improving the flow of information to consumers to help them choose a lawyer.
The SIF lives on – SRA gives fund yet another stay of execution
The Solicitors Indemnity Fund – which was first due to close in 2017 – has been given another stay of execution and will now go on to September 2023, a year later than the SRA had planned.
SDT fines veteran solicitor for multiple accounts rules breaches
A veteran solicitor whose carelessness and ignorance of the accounts rules led to multiple breaches has been fined by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
SRA decides against retrial of junior solicitor who left case on train
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has ended proceedings against the junior solicitor initially struck off after she left confidential documents on a train.
Barrister’s treatment of more junior opponent “verged on bullying”
The behaviour of the barrister who called her more junior opponent a liar before an employment tribunal and mimicked her voice verged on bullying, a disciplinary panel has decided.
Law Society looks to boost income by £8.4m through PC fee rises
The Law Society is planning to increase the cost of practising to boost its income by £8.4m over the next three years as it bids to make itself “indispensable” to members.
House of Lords ratchets up pressure on SRA over SLAPPs
Peers have asked the Solicitors Regulation Authority whether it plans to reopen complaints about law firms involved in strategic lawsuits against public participation.
Fund pays out £27m to victims of dishonest solicitors
The SRA Compensation Fund paid out £27m to the victims of solicitors’ dishonesty in its last financial year, an increase of 162% on the previous 12 months.
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”.
