Compliance & Regulation
Solicitor struck off after cutting out partners from running of firm
A solicitor who misused client money after excluding his accountants from his firm’s financial processes and cutting out his salaried partners too has been struck off.
Trainee successfully appeals rebuke over “inappropriate” Christmas card
A male trainee solicitor at Dentons has successfully appealed a rebuke from the SRA over a sexually suggestive Christmas card he left on the desk of a female colleague.
“Diligent and caring solicitor” was not dishonest over medical reports
A personal injury lawyer who the SRA accepted was a “diligent and caring solicitor” but was under “significant pressure” from his employer has been cleared of dishonesty by a tribunal.
Barristers’ conduct outside of work under increasing scrutiny
The number of reports about barristers’ conduct outside their professional lives continues to rise, the BSB has revealed. It also highlighted problems with victims of bullying not being treated with dignity.
Solicitor used prisoner’s inheritance to pay off overdraft
A solicitor who used money inherited by a jailed client to pay off his law firm’s overdraft has been struck off, with an attempt to blame a former employee dismissed as “nonsensical”.
Law firm and lawyer fined over schemes that avoided £3m in SDLT
A North-West law firm and one of its partners have been fined for undertaking 113 conveyancing transactions over four years that avoided £3m in stamp duty land tax.
Solicitors “need to understand” the difference between SRA and Law Society
Solicitors need to understand better the different roles of the Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority, the chair of the SRA said this week.
Leading firms prepare to offer part-time working to all trainees
Two large law firms – Osborne Clarke and Eversheds Sutherland – have said that they will offer all their trainees the opportunity to work part-time from September 2024.
Strike-off for solicitor who misled clients over progress of claims
A personal injury lawyer who failed to tell six clients that their claims had been struck out, instead misleading them into thinking they were active, has been struck off.
Reduce AML officers’ billable targets, regulator tells firms
Firms should relieve lawyers who hold their anti-money laundering compliance roles of some of their fee-earning workload and consider appointing deputies too, the SRA has said.
Blog
Containing the spread of unapproved AI
Nearly 60% of fee-earners admit to using unapproved tools (like free versions of ChatGPT). Yet 68% of firm leaders are confident there is zero risk of unapproved AI being used for client work.
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.”
