Latest news
Law Society’s “sympathy” with indemnity insurers’ frustrations
The Law Society has expressed sympathy with professional indemnity insurers over their call for the right to cancel policies when solicitors do not pay the premium or excess.
Council shuts down law firm’s offices for “flouting” Covid-19 rules
A law firm linked with 18 cases of Covid-19 was ordered to shut its office with immediate effect last week after being accused of showing “disregard” for the health of its staff.
Government eyes regulating the law’s unregulated providers
The Ministry of Justice is considering whether to create a register of unregulated providers of legal services and give their clients access to redress if things go wrong, it emerged yesterday.
Commercial chambers offers £20k to fund withdrawn pupillage at crime set
A London commercial chambers has put up £20,000 to fund a pupillage that a criminal set has had to withdraw because of the impact of Covid-19, in a move hailed as showing the spirit of the Bar.
Solicitor who raided client’s estate to pay debts is struck off
A solicitor who used £100,000 from a client’s estate to pay debts to HM Revenue & Customs and an indemnity insurer before closing his firm has been struck off.
PI solicitor “compromised independence” in dealings with CMC
A personal injury solicitor has been sanctioned for allowing the claims management company that supplied almost all of his work to dictate the terms of clients’ engagement with his firm.
Convicted conveyancer struck off for facilitiating mortgage fraud
A conveyancer who recklessly facilitated a mortgage fraud before being convicted of three money laundering offences and then failing to surrender to bail has been struck off.
Female Australian lawyers face “high levels” of sexual harassment
The Australian state of Victoria has launched a review into sexual harassment in the legal profession following a “deeply disturbing” survey that found that a majority women had faced it.
BSB: Exams problems “worse than thought” as it rejects alternative plan
Problems with the Bar exams were far more extensive than previously reported, the Bar Standards Board admits as barristers warn that ‘pen and paper’ resits next month could breach equality law.
Firm fined for secretly charging clients to repay loan
A law firm which surcharged more than 2,000 clients to help repay the loan it took out for a new case management system has been fined £30,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
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.
