Latest news
“Grossly negligent” partner suspended over missing $2.2m
A “grossly negligent” salaried partner has been suspended for a year after $2.2m in escrow monies belonging to the other party in a deal was “dissipated in a series of unauthorised transactions”.
Government tells conveyancers to delay completions
Conveyancers should continue to support the sales process “as far as possible” but look to change dates of completion during the lockdown, the government said yesterday.
Opinions split on SRA’s centralised higher rights test
Plans by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to introduce a centralised test for solicitors wanting higher rights of audience have divided opinions among organisations and individual solicitors.
Knights cuts staff pay as Ince cancels dividend
National firm Knights is to cut the salaries of all staff earning over £30,000 and has started a redundancy exercise, while fellow listed law firm Ince has cancelled its dividend payout.
Conveyancing: Government urges home movers to delay
The government has urged home buyers and renters to delay moving to a new house if possible during the coronavirus lockdown and said there must be social distancing if they cannot.
Crown prosecutor with PTSD was not discrimination victim
An experienced Crown prosecutor who resigned after developing post-traumatic stress order from being threatened at a magistrates’ court was not discriminated against, a tribunal has ruled.
Solicitor turned adult actor handed bankruptcy order
Paul Baxendale-Walker, a struck-off solicitor who went on to become an adult film producer and actor, and bought Loaded magazine, has been handed a 10-year bankruptcy restrictions order.
SRA relaxes assessment rules for students and trainees
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has today outlined a significant relaxation of its rules for law students and trainees to allow more of their assessment to go online.
Calls to protect criminal solicitors, pupils and LPC students
Criminal defence solicitors have threatened to stop attending police stations and a protocol to protect pupil barristers was published among efforts to protect the profession during the pandemic.
Gateley ditches dividend payout to protect liquidity
Listed law firm Gateley yesterday cancelled a dividend payout to ensure its short-term liquidity in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Blog
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.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
