Compliance & Regulation
Jail for solicitor who plundered elderly client’s bank account
A solicitor struck off for “outrageous plundering” of the assets of an elderly client suffering from dementia has now been jailed for six years.
Consumers open to optional top-up cover to reduce cost of PII
Consumers are open to the idea of mandatory professional indemnity insurance cover being lower and therefore cheaper, with the option to top it up, research has suggested.
Family misfortunes – Acting for relatives lands solicitors in hot water
Two solicitors have found themselves in regulatory bother because of the involvement of family in the matters they were dealing with, one a property purchase and the other a will.
SRA’s respect rule “will fill gap” exposed by Beckwith ruling
The SRA’s proposed new rule requiring solicitors to treat colleagues with respect is in part aimed at filling a hole exposed by the prosecution of Ryan Beckwith, it was claimed yesterday.
Government seeks new LSB chair to help “reshape legal services”
The government has begun recruiting the fourth chair of the Legal Services Board, with the Lord Chancellor saying they would play a key role in “reshaping legal services”.
Solicitor removed restriction without beneficiary’s consent
A solicitor who amended a deed of trust to remove a beneficial interest has been rebuked for doing so without checking that the beneficiary had consented.
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.
Blog
Awaab’s Law phase 2: New hazards council tenants can now claim for
The conversation on housing disrepair is moving beyond damp and mould alone. With the rollout of phase 2 of Awaab’s Law, the scope of issues covered is expanding significantly,
Beyond PCP: Can regulators and lawyers work better together next time?
Nearly a decade after the Financial Conduct Authority began investigating the car finance industry, the story of the PCP commission scandal is still unfinished.
Accountability has to live within governance, not with one person
The assumption has long been that a COLP or COFA is personally exposed to the consequences of anti-money laundering breaches.
