Compliance & Regulation
Oversight regulator steps up pressure on SRA in wake of PM Law
The Legal Services Board is to step up its demands of reform at the SRA in the wake of the review that exposed major failures in its supervision of PM Law.
SRA review lays bare missed opportunities to act earlier on PM Law
The Solicitors Regulation Authority had the information and opportunities it needed to take action on the PM Law Group long before it collapsed, a review has concluded.
Solicitor fails in appeal against rebuke for estate administration delays
A solicitor rebuked by the SRA for “substantial and unexplained delay” in the administration of an estate has failed in an appeal to the SDT.
SLAPPs show limits of legal regulation, say MPs
The government needs to “look again” at the enforcement powers of the SRA to ensure it can deal with “lawyers who let down the reputation of the profession”, a minister said this week.
LeO’s planned case fees risk being seen “as punitive tool”
Plans by the Legal Ombudsman for big rises in the case fees it charges law firms risk creating the impression that they are “being used as a punitive tool”.
BSB reviewer sides with barrister over Good Law Project complaint
The Bar Standards Board’s independent reviewer has upheld its decision to reject the Good Law Project’s complaint against a barrister over her social media posts about a trans woman.
Solicitor struck off for lying about trying to hide client file
A newly qualified solicitor who asked a colleague to hide a client file so as to cover up her lack of work on an HM Land Registry application, has been struck off.
Revealed: PM Law collapse set to cost profession £30m
The SRA Compensation Fund is to pay out £30m to clients of collapsed Sheffield-based PM Law, it has emerged. It has contributed to the 78% increase in funding required.
Solicitor banned from COFA role over multiple rule breaches
A senior solicitor has been reprimanded and banned from being a compliance officer for finance and administration for a year over multiple rule breaches.
SRA asked: Why aren’t you approving M&A deals?
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been asked to explain why it is requiring only notification of impending mergers and acquisitions, rather than its approval.
Blog
Beyond the PII premium – rethinking risk
Professional indemnity insurance renewal is often treated as an annual pricing exercise. But it is also a chance to show how effectively you identify, manage and mitigate risk.
The AI governance gap in law firms and why it matters now
A third of law firms are already using AI tools with no formal policy in place to govern how AI gets used, what data goes into it, or who’s accountable when something goes wrong.
Information isn’t oversight – lessons from the PM Law review
The PM Law review’s real findings perhaps point to a failure mode applying to any organisation sitting on scattered risk information.
Reports
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