Regulation
Insurers “not interested in backing freelance solicitors”
An expert in law firm regulation has said he does not know a single insurer interested in providing indemnity insurance to freelance solicitors, a concern echoed by the Law Society.
High Court rejects bomb hoax barrister’s appeal
The High Court has rejected an appeal from a barrister disbarred last year after being jailed for telling the government that the Olympic Games in London was at risk from terrorists with a nuclear bomb.
Solicitor caught in TV sham marriage sting struck off
A solicitor who was recorded by an undercover reporter giving advice on what he knew was a sham marriage has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
SDT to move to civil standard of proof
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal is to move from the criminal to the civil standard of proof and rejected suggestions that this will result in “easier prosecutions”.
Conveyancers “underquoting to win business”, SRA suggests
Some conveyancing law firms are providing unrealistic initial quotes in order to win business and most cause unnecessary enquiries from the Land Registry, SRA research has suggested.
Solicitor fined £45,000 for putting son’s interests before clients
A solicitor who used his role in a collective enfranchisement process to push his son’s interests at the expense of other clients has been fined £45,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Weinstein NDA solicitor referred to disciplinary tribunal
A solicitor at City firm Allen & Overy involved in drafting a non-disclosure agreement involving film producer Harvey Weinstein has been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
High Court strikes off overcharging solicitor
The High Court has struck off a solicitor who instituted a practice of “gross overcharging” in clinical negligence cases so as to maximise profits, overturning a fine imposed by a disciplinary tribunal.
Jail for bogus barrister who scammed his way to pupillage
A fraudster who posed as a barrister after tricking a London set into giving him pupillage has been jailed for 27 months. He worked on 18 family law cases, one of which has already had to be reheard.
Discriminatory instruction barrister: Fault is system’s not solicitor’s
The Asian woman barrister who was disinstructed after her client wanted a white man to represent her has said she does not blame the solicitor involved.
Blog
Why later-life divorce requires a distinct professional framework
Later-life divorce, often described as ‘silver splitter’ or ‘grey divorce’ cases, is no longer a marginal feature of family law practice. It challenges long-standing assumptions about how divorce work is done.
Listening, learning and leading The Solicitor’s Charity with care
As I prepare to hand over the mantle of chair of The Solicitor’s Charity next month, it doesn’t feel like an end. Instead, it feels like a wonderful journey.
Is competition in the legal sector stifling innovation?
As the legal sector’s competitive landscape continues to evolve, Nobel laureates remind us that innovation is not inevitable,and that competition may not always be an incentive to innovate.
