Compliance & Regulation
“Hundreds of millions” of pounds laundered through conveyancers
It is likely that criminals launder “hundreds of millions” of pounds with the inadvertent aid of conveyancers across the UK, the government has warned. London litigation firms are also being targeted.
High Court rejects solicitor’s appeal against strike-off
The High Court has rejected an appeal from a solicitor struck off for persuading a vulnerable client to pay £4,700 into her personal bank account.
SRA fails in bid to sell solicitor’s properties to recoup intervention costs
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has failed in its bid to sell two properties to recoup £354,000 of the costs of intervening in a solicitor’s practice.
SRA decides against appealing Beckwith ruling
The Solicitors Regulation Authority will not appeal the High Court decision in the Ryan Beckwith case, stressing that the ruling was confined to its facts.
Scottish solicitors criticise SRA for money laundering levy stance
The Law Society of Scotland has criticised the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s call for the government not to exempt small law firms from paying the proposed economic crime levy.
Solicitor fined for allowing struck-off boss to remain involved at firm
A solicitor who allowed her struck-off partner to continue his involvement in their practice, and failed to obtain client consent before transferring matters to an unregulated firm, has been fined £2,000.
Small law firms should pay economic crime levy, SRA says
Small law firms should not be exempt from the economic crime levy the government wants to introduce to help tackle money laundering, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said.
University bosses eye “revolutionary” impact of SQE
One of the leading figures in legal education has hailed the introduction next year of the SQE as a “revolution”, with another saying it will break down the barriers between academia and the profession.
Solicitor agrees to leave profession over multiple AML failures
A solicitor who failed in his “basic duties” around anti-money laundering has been fined £2,000 – rather than up to £50,000 his misconduct deserved – because he has agreed to leave the profession.
Male and BAME solicitors still disproportionate focus of SRA action
Men and solicitors from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds continue to feature disproportionately in the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s enforcement work, new figures have shown.
Blog
Reorientation in the AI era must begin with the client
Much of the discussion about AI in the legal industry focuses on technology: which tools to adopt and which tasks might get automated. But this misses the deeper story.
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.
