Latest news
“Accusation without evidence” – tribunal slams SRA prosecution
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has castigated the Solicitors Regulation Authority for prosecuting a law firm and two partners based on “accusation without evidence”.
“You don’t have to start nude,” said barrister photographer
The barrister and amateur photographer suspended for two years for a conversation with a woman about modelling told her she did not have to start with nude pictures.
Plexus Legal administrators charge more than double original estimate
The administrators of Plexus Legal have now racked up more than £650,000 in fees in less than 18 months, more than twice their original estimate.
SRA waives £120k fine of law firm now in administration
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has waived a £120,000 fine it intended to levy on a law firm because it has now gone into administration.
Listed firm to wind down after failing to find administrators
Listed legal business RBG Holdings is to be wound down after failing to appoint an administrator, it announced to the London Stock Exchange this morning.
Local law societies condemn SRA plans for client money
The SRA’s plans to reform consumer protection arrangements are disproportionate, risk undermining public confidence and will not work, the five largest local law societies have warned.
Court rejects divorcing husband’s conflict claim against solicitors
The Family Court has rejected a divorcing husband’s claim that his wife’s solicitors are conflicted out of acting for her because of past work they did for the couple.
Probate Service waiting times fall by 60% in 13 months
The Probate Service seems to have finally overcome its backlog, with average wait times in December 2024 now six and half weeks, compared to nearly 16 weeks a year earlier.
Fined solicitor had “implacable belief” in his AML knowledge
An experienced solicitor who had an “implacable belief that he was right” and so did not think he needed to check anti-money laundering rules has been fined £45,000 for breaching them.
Suspended barrister warns over “innocent conversations about hobbies”
The barrister suspended for two years after showing his photography website to a woman and offering to take unclothed photos of her has said it was “an innocent discussion”.
Blog
The SRA needs to admit it got it wrong about SLAPPs
The High Court judgment in Ashley Hurst v SRA in January raises serious questions about the regulator’s approach to allegations of SLAPP-like behaviour.
Why menopause support belongs on every law firm’s agenda
Progression in the law slows significantly as women approach senior leadership. Most will be at the height of their careers around the average age menopause symptoms begin.
Law firms need to go beyond document checks
At the root of every failed compliance review is a familiar phrase: a calm assertion of “but we did a document check”.
