Barristers
Bar Council and BSB cut costs as Scots slash fees for solicitors
The Bar Council and Bar Standards Board have announced a series of measures – including furloughing – to make savings of more than £200,000 to support the profession during the Covid-19 crisis.
Regulators “confirm commitment” to Legal Choices amid control dispute
Seven of the eight frontline regulators have “confirmed their continued commitment” to the Legal Choices website, despite the Solicitors Regulation Authority no longer wanting to run it.
Future for the Bar “bleak” as workload collapses for many
The future for the Bar is “bleak” if work streams and earnings do not improve, with over half of barristers now working less than 18 hours a week, the Bar Council has warned.
LSB questions Bar regulator’s decision-making
The Legal Services Board is launching a formal review of the Bar Standards Board’s leadership and decision-making in the wake of its controversial decision to stop funding the Legal Choices website.
Young barristers spell out pandemic’s devastating financial toll
Young barristers are being especially badly hit by the coronavirus crisis and they are unlikely to get much help from the government’s self-employment income support scheme.
Charity offers £1m Covid-19 support to solicitors
SBA, the charity for solicitors, is launching a £1m hardship fund to aid those in financial difficulty following the outbreak of Covid-19. Meanwhile, its barrister equivalent has appealed for donations.
It comes as its barrister equivalent, the Barristers Benevolent Association (BBA), has launched an appeal for funds to support members of the Bar.
Fine for barrister who took 15 months to pay fine
An unregistered barrister and solicitor who took 15 months to pay a £500 fine levied by the Bar Standards Board has been reprimanded – and ordered to pay another £500.
“Release QC money” to support Bar during Covid-19
The Bar Council has been urged to call in its share of the surplus held by QC Appointments to support barristers struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, as the Inns of Court looks at measures too.
Barrister lied to police “to help close friend”
An unregistered barrister who lied about her status to extract information about an investigation by North Yorkshire Police has been disbarred.
Barrister breached court order to see ex-girlfriend
An experienced barrister has been suspended for three months and fined £1,000 for twice breaching a non-molestation order to see his ex-girlfriend.
Blog
Change in regulator shouldn’t make AML less of a priority
While SRA fines for AML have been climbing, many in the profession aren’t confident they will get any relief from the FCA, a body used to dealing with a highly regulated industry.
There are 17 million wills waiting to be written
The main reason cited by people who do not have a will was a lack of awareness as to how to arrange one. As a professional community, we seem to be failing to get our message across.
The case for a single legal services regulator: why the current system is failing
From catastrophic firm collapses to endemic compliance failures, the evidence is mounting that the current multi-regulator model is fundamentally broken.
