Latest news
BSB jumps out of cab-rank rule frying pan and into fire of LSB probe
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has been discharged from an undertaking it gave nearly two years ago to deal with concerns over the way it dealt with changes to the cab-rank rule. But in doing so, the Legal Services Board said it had continuing misgivings that have “directed our attention towards the BSB’s approach to regulation more broadly”.
Consumers and lawyers seeing benefits of unbundling legal services, major research finds
Consumers using ‘unbundled’ legal services generally report a positive experience and it has the potential to widen access to justice, groundbreaking exploratory research has found. However, it made clear that other solutions were also needed to address the legal needs of “more vulnerable consumers” unable to unbundle.
Judge orders removal of defamatory references to law firm on Solicitors From Hell copycat website
A High Court judge has ordered the take-down of pages of an anti-solicitor website that contain defamatory statements about a law firm, after a litigation opponent alleged their publication was “evidence that the firm was disreputable”.
Leading accountants become first to swap ABS regulator
Leading accountancy firm Kingston Smith has become the first alternative business structure (ABS) to switch regulators after being granted a licence by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
BLP enlists AI to shoulder process work burden – and so far the lawyers like it
Global law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner will be using artificial intelligence across every practice area within three years, the man credited with bringing AI technology to its real estate department has predicted.
LSB research: Firms see little value in what they spend on regulation
Regulation accounts for between 15% and 23% of the costs of law firms, money they would generally not bother spending if they were not required to, an indicative study by the Legal Services Board has found. However, the opposite was the case for lawyers practising as individuals.
Gateley posts strong results and “is already seeing benefits of listing”
Improving market conditions saw Gateley record revenue growth of 11.5% and profits up 32% in its last financial year, the listed law firm told the stock exchange today. Becoming a public company is helping to differentiate the firm, improve its profile and aid recruitment, it also told investors.
Barrister loses appeal against disbarment for misconduct over illness claim
The Visitors of the Inns of Court have thrown out appeals by a barrister against three disciplinary tribunal rulings, including one which disbarred him for seeking an adjournment of his case on grounds of ill-health, although he was found conducting a trial just days later.
High Court backs decision not to strike off solicitor who lied to avoid speeding penalty
The High Court has rejected a Solicitors Regulation Authority bid to increase the sanction for a solicitor who committed perjury to avoid a speeding fine from a suspension to a striking-off. Mr Justice Dove found that it could not be said the two-year suspension was “clearly inappropriate”.
Legal Services Board approves relaxation of rules on accountants’ reports
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s plans to relax the rules around accountants’ reports have been formally approved by the Legal Services Board, meaning that around 1,000 more law firms will not have to submit one in future
Blog
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.
Accountability has to live within governance, not with one person
The assumption has long been that a COLP or COFA is personally exposed to the consequences of anti-money laundering breaches.
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.
