Compliance & Regulation
Court criticises solicitor in relationship with client for work on her claim
The High Court has criticised a “seriously mistaken” senior solicitor for leading on a £1.3m claim against another law firm when he was in a romantic relationship with the claimant.
CA rejects public access barristers’ bid for outstanding fees
The Court of Appeal has rejected a bid by two public access barristers to be paid nearly £125,000 in fees after the lower courts found a key term in their retainers unfair.
Strike-off for partner caught by paedophile hunter “sting”
A former partner at top firm DWF who was convicted after being caught in a ‘sting’ operation by a paedophile hunter group has now been struck off.
“Robing room banter” – Solicitor reprimanded for sexual comments
An experienced criminal lawyer who made sexualised jokes in a courtroom at the expense of a probation officer has been reprimanded by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
BSB decides not to publish its assessments of chambers
The Bar Standards Board has decided against making public the assessments it intends to make of individual chambers, as part of its new approach to overseeing them.
Ban for partner who sought intimate relationship with junior
A partner and registered foreign lawyer at the Brussels office of a major City law firm has been banned after admitting that he wanted a sexual relationship with a young female colleague.
More price transparency and bulk claims rise up SRA agenda
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to restart work on improving transparency for consumers, which could see firms having to publish their prices in more areas of law.
SRA finally getting to grips with aged investigations into solicitors
A major push to improve the quality and speed of the SRA’s investigation and enforcement work has significantly reduced the number of cases older than two years.
Nearly 500 law firms sanctioned for transparency failures
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has sanctioned 475 law firms over failures to comply with its transparency rules since they went live nearly six years ago.
Phil Shiner pleads guilty to legal aid fraud
Disgraced human rights lawyer Phil Shiner has pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud over legal aid applications for claims against British soldiers accused of ill treatment of Iraqi detainees.
Blog
How does the legal profession become neuroinclusive?
My learning journey as mum to an autistic son with profound additional needs completely changed the way in which I work as a child protection lawyer.
The real cure for inequality at law firms? Listening
How can men, as one male panellist put it, “get out of the way of people coming up through the ranks?”
Most of these conversations only happen after the men leave the room.
Andy Burnham and the Hillsborough Law: should solicitors be worried?
Now that Andy Burnham has become prime minister, the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, otherwise known as the Hillsborough Law, will receive a real boost of political capital.
