Compliance & Regulation
BTAS rejects calls to soften sanctions for ‘low level’ sexual misconduct
The Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service has rejected the argument that a starting point of 12 months’ suspension for sexual misconduct is too much for some less serious types of behaviour.
SDT chief defends role in policing solicitors’ personal conduct
It is “impossible for solicitors to leave their practising certificates at home completely” when it comes to behaviour in their personal lives, the president of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has said.
Law Society: Solicitors must not use AI without clients’ consent
Clients should be put at the heart of legal technology by law firms, including being asked for consent before artificial intelligence is deployed, solicitors have been told.
High-profile solicitor Todner to face disciplinary tribunal
High-profile solicitor Karen Todner is to face the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over allegations of financial mismanagement. The tribunal is also to hear a case involving leading London firm Mishcon de Reya.
Solicitor lost unencrypted USB stick full of client information
A solicitor who lost an unencrypted USB stick full of client information that was subsequently found by a member of the public has been rebuked by the SRA.
City partner struck off for “bizarre” inflated billing
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has described as “bizarre and not credible” an account given by a City partner of how she valued at £220,000 legal work for a client she had billed at only £3,800.
Technology and innovation “step-change” in last year but barriers persist
The past year has seen a “step change” in the adoption of legal technology and innovation, in part as a result of Covid-19, a major piece of new research has found. However, significant barriers remain.
Men four times more likely than women to appear before SDT
Men are four times more likely than women to appear before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, despite gender parity in the profession, academics have found.
Dishonest but “humanitarian” solicitor avoids strike-off
A solicitor found to have misled a court, lied to a client about receiving money from them and falsely held himself out as a notary public has avoided being struck off.
Call for law to enforce undertakings given by incorporated law firms
Parliament should extend the courts’ supervisory jurisdiction over solicitors’ undertakings to cover those given by incorporated law firms, particularly LLPs, the Supreme Court said today.
Blog
It’s time for law firms to ask tougher questions
For years, many law firms have treated ID verification as a box-ticking exercise. Run a liveness check, match a face to a document and move on. But that is no longer good enough.
Business fatigue to AI will risk job security
Whilst we know professional learning has always been part of career paths, to hire, retain and keep talent, AI needs to be embedded as a core part of this training.
On good authority? GenAI and the reputational risks to law firms
As GenAI’s influence grows, so do the risks which are already playing out in courtrooms across England and Wales, where some early adopters are setting precedents they would rather not.
