Latest news
BSB calls in external law firm to help with cross-qualifying lawyers
The Bar Standards Board is set to bring in external solicitors to help clear the sizeable backlog of applications by foreign lawyers wanting to requalify at the Bar.
Rebuke for solicitor who held onto client money for 14 years
A solicitor who retained client money for 14 years without good reason has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Traditional partnership losing appeal, says boss of PE-backed firm
The traditional partnership model is losing its grip on solicitors, according to the boss of a private equity-owned firm who says it has been able to do things it could not before the takeover.
Burford doubles funding for cases led by diverse lawyers
Litigation funder Burford Capital has set aside a further $150m (£115m) for cases led by women or ethnic minority lawyers.
Barrister disbarred over CV that lied about work in chambers
A barrister who lied about having practised from a well-known London set when in fact he had never even gone through pupillage has been disbarred.
Smaller firms falling out of love with merger, research finds
One in 10 smaller law firms are open to mergers or acquisitions, a proportion which has fallen steadily over the last two years, new research has found.
Male barristers “not being held to account” for bullying women
The Bar Standards Board is “not holding perpetrator barristers accountable for harassment and bullying of women”, female barrister groups have argued.
Scottish law firm extends English footprint with City acquisition
Scottish law firm Gilson Gray has extended its expansion south of the border by acquiring City of London-based PCM Solicitors, with plans to enter other markets too.
Veteran solicitor and domestic abuse victim can return to roll
A veteran solicitor who was struck off in 2002 “against a background of traumatic domestic abuse” has been allowed to return to the roll to work in a pro bono law clinic.
Law Society tells criminal legal aid firms to consider pulling out
The Law Society is advising criminal legal aid firms to carry out ‘viability reviews’ to determine whether they are able continue to provide services, and if they are, “whether scaling back is necessary”.
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.
