Compliance & Regulation
SRA to press ahead with plan to increase fining power to £25,000
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to press ahead with plans to expand its fining powers from the current maximum of £2,000 to £25,000 and introduce fixed penalties for low-level offences.
GC fined over conflicts of interest in instructing outside firm
A former general counsel has been fined for failing to disclose his interest in instructing an external firm and his links with a solicitor he then recommended to that firm.
LSB urges Citizens Advice-style service for small businesses
A national legal support and information service for small businesses, akin to Citizens Advice, would help bridge a “significant access to justice gap”, the Legal Services Board says today.
High-profile solicitor’s SDT fined upped because of role at tribunal
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal rejected a lower fine for high-profile solicitor Karen Todner, in part because she was the tribunal’s vice-president at the time of her misconduct.
Barrister convicted of sexual assault wins appeal against disbarment
A male barrister who sexually assaulted a female colleague and then asked her to lie to help him cover his tracks with his partner has won his appeal against disbarment.
Law firm reported to SRA for “clear breach” of SLAPP guidance
The Solicitors Regulation Authority needs to investigate a “clear breach” of its recent guidance over SLAPPs, lawyers for the founder of investigative website Bellingcat have said.
Solicitor rebuked over referrals from genealogists
A solicitor has been rebuked for taking referrals from a genealogy business that acquired clients in a way that a law firm would be prohibited from doing.
Solicitor fined for failing to pay thousands in counsel’s fees
A solicitor who has failed to pay thousands of pounds in outstanding fees to counsel has been fined by the SRA, with others fined for accounts and transparency rules breaches.
Paralegal jailed for stealing £438k from law firm to feed gambling habit
A former paralegal at national law firm BLM has been jailed for three years and three months after pleading guilty to stealing £438,000 from the firm to feed his gambling habit.
MPs and peers urge bigger fines for lawyers who break AML rules
MPs and peers have called for “a radical overhaul” of anti-money laundering supervision, with regulators of lawyers urged to issue wrongdoers with “bigger, more public” fines.
Blog
When AI adoption goes wrong, costs add up fast
City AM recently reported that London is fighting to claim the title of ‘global capital of legal AI’. However, it’s crucial we remember that adoption alone does not create value.
Gen Z lawyers vs identity, sacrifice and success
This conversation began with my training principal, who admitted something many senior lawyers quietly feel: “I struggle to understand what motivates Gen Z lawyers.”
How does the legal profession become neuroinclusive?
My learning journey as mum to an autistic son with profound additional needs completely changed the way in which I work as a child protection lawyer.
