Compliance & Regulation

A project exploring new funding streams for the not-for-profit legal advice sector – including interest on client accounts and levies of large law firms – went live this month.

A partner who misled his client and his supervising partner about the progress of the client’s visa application has been struck off.

A solicitor who successfully released money frozen in a client’s bank account then broke the accounts rules by having it transferred into her firm’s client account.

The Legal Services Board has trimmed its proposed budget increase for 2025-26 but it is still to rise by 11% – adding £3.05 onto every regulated lawyer’s practising fees.

Three former directors of a law firm have been rebuked for allowing it to accrue hundreds of dormant balances and five suspense ledgers that between them held £930,000.

“Exceptional” personal mitigation led a tribunal to reduce the suspension of a male barrister who harassed a woman at his chambers’ Christmas party below the indicative sentence.

A solicitor who practised while suspended has been struck off, while the law firm owner who unwittingly employed him received a suspended sentence.

A law firm owner has been suspended for not disclosing conflicts of interest to clients, including that his wife was a director of the property development company they were buying from.

Solicitors are set to pay £38m towards being represented by the Law Society after it announced plans for a 2% rise in the income it takes from the annual practising fees.

A tribunal judge who let a solicitor bypass security checks to enter a courthouse – leading to a confrontation with security staff – has been given formal advice for misconduct.