Latest news
City solicitor suspended after second police cocaine caution
A City solicitor who received a second police caution for possessing cocaine – but failed to report it out of fear of losing his job and marriage – has been banned from practice for a year.
Slightly less grim recovery in prospect for Ince & Co creditors
The prospects of creditors of what was Ince & Co have improved modestly over the past year, but they still face losing most of their money, according to joint administrators Quantuma.
Utah become first US state to embrace ABSs
Utah has become the first US state to embrace alternative business structures in response to what has been described as an access-to-justice crisis exacerbated by Covid-19.
Technical problems hit 11% of BPTC students
Some 11% of Bar professional training course students taking their first exam online this week have experienced technical problems, the Bar Standards Board said today.
Chambers blames government approach to justice system for decision to close
The impact of Covid-19 on the justice system and the government’s response has led a mid-sized London set to announce its closure, saying members are not prepared to take the financial risk they are facing.
Muslim Bar student “forced to defer exam” over headscarf removal demand
A Muslim Bar student felt forced to defer her exams because the BSB said she had to remove her headscarf for ID purposes but could not guarantee that it would be a woman who would watch.
LSB demands greater transparency on practising fees
Legal regulators will have to explain more clearly how they spend their practising certificate fees under revised rules proposed by the Legal Services Board.
67% of solicitors tell Law Society PC fee is not value for money
Two-thirds of solicitors do not consider the practising certificate fee value for money, with many expressing concern at the level being charged given the impact of Covid-19.
Barristers step in to support beleaguered Bar students
Barristers have offered to support the dozens of Bar students who have so far reported major problems with taking their exams, including having to urinate into bottles and buckets at their desks.
What price solidarity among legal aid lawyers?
Solidarity – or not – between legal aid lawyers is under the spotlight this week, with solicitors from 200 law firms coming together to force a change to immigration fees, but criminal firms falling out.
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.
