Latest news
Uproar over barrister’s “stroppy teenager of colour” tweet
A barrister has come under fire from his own chambers and other barristers for tweeting that “The Equality Act undermines school discipline by empowering the stroppy teenager of colour”.
Fines for partners who charged clients for indemnity insurance
Three partners have been fined for charging conveyancing clients for the firm’s indemnity insurance, as well as “variable sums” for filling out a simple standard form.
Non-compliant barrister given another three-year practising ban
A barrister already prevented from practising for three years after withdrawing from a case without telling his client will now have to wait three more years after another finding against him.
GCs at private equity firms “lack control of legal spending”
Senior in-house lawyers at large private equity firms are responsible for the cost of instructing law firms but lack the power to control it, a study has found.
‘Professionally embarrassed’ lawyers wrong to withdraw during murder trial
The legal team of a man accused of murder was wrong to withdraw during the trial but the move did not render his subsequent conviction unsafe, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Solicitor allowed use of client account as £4.6m banking facility
A solicitor who let his firm’s client account be used as a banking facility for payments from clients’ investors totalling over £4.6m has been fined £15,000.
Barristers take on debt and other work to survive pandemic
Six in 10 barristers, rising to 80% of those doing publicly funded work, have taken on personal debt or used savings to get through Covid-19, while a quarter have taken on additional paid work.
Male barrister fined for smacking female colleague on backside
A male barrister who told a junior female colleague that “I really wanted to smack your arse” – and then did so – has been reprimanded and fined £6,000 by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.
Another SRA prosecution fails but regulator avoids costs order
The Solicitors Regulation Authority was justified in prosecuting two law firm partners even though all of the allegations were dismissed, a tribunal has ruled.
New York rejects ABSs for now as Arizona opens doors to them
Alternative business structures will not be allowed in New York for the time being because the case for them improving access to justice has not been made, a commission has decided.
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.
