Latest news
SRA pledges “urgent” resolution to inquiry into al-Sweady law firms
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is looking to “urgently” conclude its investigation into the activities of the two law firms – Public Interest Lawyers and Leigh Day & Co – whose behaviour was heavily criticised by defence secretary Michael Fallon in the wake of the findings of the al-Sweady inquiry.
QualitySolicitors launches online customer platform
QualitySolicitors (QS) has launched a new online customer platform, which has taken a year to develop and is described by the network as the most advanced of its kind.
Printers’ ABS targets fixed-fee advice for SMEs
The British Printing Industries Federation is aiming to meet the unmet need for legal advice in the sector, having finally revealed its plans for the alternative business structure licenced by the SRA some seven months ago.
‘Named and shamed’ barrister banned from public access work
Tariq Rehman, the barrister who last month became the first lawyer to be ‘named and shamed’ by the Legal Ombudsman for a series of complaints, has been banned from taking on any new public access cases for the time being.
Quindell on the up with hedge fund investment and heavyweight appointments
Alternative business structure Quindell plc was finally on the up last week, with its share price soaring 58% in four days. And they were up a further 30% in early trading today after heavyweight figures were appointed to the board.
Fast-growing Midlands firm becomes ABS
DBS Law, a fast-growing general civil practice based in Birmingham, has become an alternative business structure as it looks to build on its dramatic growth over recent years.
New appointments maintain City bias among solicitors on SRA board
The City bias among the solicitors who sit on the board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority has been maintained with the appointment of two new members, including the ex-joint chief executive of Herbert Smith Freehills.
Exclusive: 1,000 barristers sign up to “game changing” public access scheme
More than 1,000 barristers have already signed up to a “game changing” initiative that aims to smooth the way for consumers and businesses to use public access, Legal Futures can reveal.
SRA shuts Manchester firm – four months after banning director from conveyancing
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has closed down a Manchester law firm, more than four months after banning its director from conveyancing and ordering him to go on a mortgage fraud and money laundering course.
Workload and disciplinary problems top table for stressed lawyers
Workload and disciplinary problems have topped the table of reasons why lawyers contacted mental health charity LawCare last year, between them accounting for nearly half of all calls.
Blog
Awaab’s Law phase 2: New hazards council tenants can now claim for
The conversation on housing disrepair is moving beyond damp and mould alone. With the rollout of phase 2 of Awaab’s Law, the scope of issues covered is expanding significantly,
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.
