Latest news
BSB eyes targets to improve diversity of senior staff
Nearly half of staff at the Bar Standards Board are now from ethnic minority backgrounds but it is looking at targets to improve the diversity of its management.
Law firm partner earnings grow twice as fast as barristers’ income
The income of equity partners at law firms increased by 42% in the five tax years to 2022/23, more than twice as fast as barristers and that of the rest of the UK workforce.
Formal warning for judge who had sex in chambers
A recorder who had sex in his judicial chambers over 15 years ago has been given a formal warning for misconduct.
FCA urged to rethink advice to “millions” of law firm car finance clients
The Financial Conduct Authority has been urged to rethink its advice to consumers using law firms in motor finance claims after research showed how many have already signed up.
Applications to block probate rise to all-time high
The final quarter of 2024 saw an all-time high in quarterly applications to block probate in England and Wales, research has found.
Ban for Co-op estate planner over LPA dishonesty
An estate planning consultant at Co-operative Legal Services who falsely confirmed that he had witnessed the signatures on a lasting power of attorney has been banned.
PE in the law expands to Sweden as six firms join new group
Private equity in the law expanded to Sweden yesterday with the launch of AGRD Partners, a new group formed by six firms and backed by a Nordic investment house.
SRA shuts down nine-partner firm over solicitor’s suspected dishonesty
The Solicitors Regulation Authority yesterday shut down two law firms – including a nine-partner practice in Yorkshire – due to the suspected dishonesty of a solicitor.
ACSO bids to lead collective action against Amazon
The Association of Consumer Support Organisations is looking to sue Amazon on behalf of more than 45m consumers who bought products on its website from third-party sellers.
Knights enters Wales with acquisition and partner hires
Listed law firm Knights has undertaken yet another acquisition to mark its first entry into Wales, as well as announcing the recruitment of four partners for the Cardiff office.
Blog
Change in regulator shouldn’t make AML less of a priority
While SRA fines for AML have been climbing, many in the profession aren’t confident they will get any relief from the FCA, a body used to dealing with a highly regulated industry.
There are 17 million wills waiting to be written
The main reason cited by people who do not have a will was a lack of awareness as to how to arrange one. As a professional community, we seem to be failing to get our message across.
The case for a single legal services regulator: why the current system is failing
From catastrophic firm collapses to endemic compliance failures, the evidence is mounting that the current multi-regulator model is fundamentally broken.
