Compliance & Regulation
LegalZoom is first business to have ABSs in England and the US
LegalZoom has become the first business to have an alternative business structure license in both the US and England and Wales after winning approval in the pioneering state of Arizona.
Scotland mulls single regulator for all lawyers
The possibility of a single regulator for all lawyers in Scotland – and the title of ‘lawyer’ having statutory protection – is being canvassed by the Scottish government.
SRA bans non-solicitors for theft, fabrication and forgery
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has banned a string of non-solicitors from working in the profession for dishonesty, including theft of electronic devices, fabricating letters and faking a client’s signature.
Solicitor misled own relatives about their conveyancing fees
A conveyancing solicitor who misled clients he was related on how their fees would be calculated has been fined by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Rebuke for solicitor whose failures inadvertently facilitated fraud
A solicitor’s failure to conduct proper client ID checks and to confirm that the client owned the property he said he did inadvertently facilitated a fraud, it has emerged.
Barrister disbarred after council tax conviction
A barrister convicted of failing to disclose a change in her circumstances for the purposes of council tax, and who was then found to have lied at a re-hearing, has been disbarred.
30% of barristers have faced bullying, harassment and discrimination
Nearly one in three barristers have personal experience of bullying, harassment and/or discrimination in the past two years, Bar Council research has revealed.
Treasury rejects SRA and Law Society pleas over economic crime levy
The government has rejected a call from the Solicitors Regulation Authority that small law firms should have to pay its new economic crime levy.
SRA launches investigations into 10% of firms checked for AML compliance
More than 10% of law firms whose compliance with anti-money laundering rules was checked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in the last year have been referred for investigation
“Patronising” solicitor struck off for comments made to young women
A “patronising” solicitor who made multiple “racially, ethnically or religiously motivated comments” to young women at an event – whom he later accused of being ‘woke’ – has been struck off.
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.”
