Compliance & Regulation
Judge warned over misconduct in own divorce proceedings
A deputy district judge has received a formal warning for misconduct over how he presented his financial situation in divorce proceedings.
Solicitor struck off over missing money that has cost profession £3.8m
A solicitor who has cost the profession more than £3.8m in payments from the SRA Compensation Fund to replace money that was taken from property clients has been struck off.
Solicitor fined for transferring £10k of client money by error
A solicitor who mistakenly transferred £10,000 of client money to his firm’s business account – and did not realise for six months – has been fined by the SRA.
SRA to contact dozens of immigration solicitors over competence
The SRA is contacting a group of immigration and asylum solicitors whose training records did not provide “sufficient assurances” that they are maintaining their competence.
ACL set to introduce ‘costs paralegals’ to boost profession
The Association of Costs Lawyers has backed the creation of a new membership category for non-costs lawyers, with launched a further consultation on describing them as ‘costs paralegals’.
SRA hands out another big fine for AML non-compliance
A law firm in Essex is the latest to receive a hefty fine from the Solicitors Regulation Authority for not complying with anti-money laundering rules.
“Favourable” PII market expected to continue throughout 2024
The current “favourable” professional indemnity insurance market is expected to continue throughout the rest of 2024, according to a leading broker.
Conveyancers will be urged to move away from client account
Licensed conveyancers will be encouraged by their regulator to move away from the risks of client account as it becomes more practical, an industry roundtable has heard.
SRA to probe competence of family law and landlord and tenant solicitors
The SRA is to examine how family law and landlord and tenant law specialists maintain their competence amid increasing reports about their practices.
First law firm obtains specialist legal services ICO certification
A leading law firm has become the first to obtain the new legal services-specific data protection certification approved by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Blog
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
From ‘year zero’ to £6.5m – how a law firm found its second life
In 2018, I hit what I call ‘year zero’. On paper, Olliers Solicitors was a top-tier criminal defence firm but beneath the surface, I could see we were at a crossroads.
