Latest news
Law Society: Legal services productivity on the rise
Productivity in the legal services sector rose by 17% in the five years from 2013 to 2018, a report by accountants KPMG for the Law Society has found.
LSB launches continuing competence inquiry
The Legal Services Board has launched a call for evidence on continuing competence, the first stage in a promised review of the issue that could lead to periodic checks on lawyers’ fitness to practise.
Solicitor who “completely lost control” is suspended
A solicitor who admitted that he had “lost control of events completely” in the final months of his firm – due to his “ineptitude and incompetence” – has been suspended for two years.
SRA presses ahead with plan to cut compensation awards
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is pushing on with plans to cut the upper limit for Compensation Fund awards from £2m to £500,000, while modifying other proposals to reduce the cost of the scheme.
LawCare callers complaining about bullying double
The lawyers’ welfare charity LawCare has reported an upsurge in the number of callers complaining about bullying, with reports almost doubling last year.
High Court rejects judges’ complaints about online divorce service
The High Court has granted declarations that an online service has not broken conflict of interest rules or the Legal Services Act by helping divorcing couples draft their own documents and not use lawyers.
Keoghs’ PE investor exits after insurance industry sale
Leading insurance law firm Keoghs – which has enjoyed private equity investment for seven years – is to be bought by a private equity-backed professional services and technology business.
Bar regulator struggles with rise in complaints from public
The Bar Standards Board is struggling to cope with the rise in complaints from members of the public, missing its performance target by a big distance, its annual enforcement report has revealed.
Criminal legal aid solicitor struck off for accounts rule breaches
A solicitor has been struck off after nearly 40 years in practice after admitting that the difficulties of relying on payment from criminal legal aid work overwhelmed him.
Law firm wrong to cling onto client’s sale proceeds
A law firm should not have refused to hand over £330,000 from the sale of a house in South London for nearly four years despite having “reasonable grounds for suspicion” over the seller’s identity.
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.
