Regulation
SRA urged to tackle mental health problems with ‘fitness to practise’ regime
The SRA needs to activate a dormant power that allows it to introduce ‘fitness to practise’ rules, in the wake of yesterday’s ruling about the role of mental health in solicitors’ misconduct.
Solicitor struck off for fraudulent claim against ex-employee
A solicitor jailed for falsifying documents to bring a civil claim against a former employee, in actions a judge said attacked “the very heart of the justice system”, has been struck off.
Mental health problems “do not justify” solicitors’ dishonesty
Pressure of work or extreme working conditions “cannot either alone or in conjunction with stress or depression” justify not striking off dishonest solicitors, the High Court has ruled.
Landmark jail sentence for man who stole client data for CMCs
A man who passed on thousands of an accident repair company’s customer records to claims management companies has been jailed in a landmark prosecution.
SRA and Law Society warned over AML helpline confusion
The body that oversees the legal profession’s anti-money laundering efforts has expressed concern over both the Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority offering solicitors helpline advice.
Fake solicitor jailed after taking thousands from victims
A man who posed as a solicitor has been jailed for taking thousands of pounds from unsuspecting members of the Pakistani community in Birmingham and then intimidating them.
Bar chair urges solicitors to act over barrister bias
The chairman of the Bar Council has sent a strong message to solicitors about the need to challenge clients who discriminate against barristers because of gender, race or other bias.
SQE “will increase inequality and deter working class students”
The idea that the Solicitors Qualifying Examination will improve diversity is false and instead it will have “devastating effects” on many individuals, two academics have claimed.
Female Asian barrister returns brief because client wanted ‘white man’
The only female Afghan-born practising barrister revealed yesterday that she had been asked by a solicitor to return her brief because the client wanted “a white male barrister”.
SQE to be introduced in autumn 2021
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination – the new way that solicitors will qualify – will be launched in autumn 2021, with the candidate fee likely to range between £3,000 and £4,500.
Blog
The SRA needs to admit it got it wrong about SLAPPs
The High Court judgment in Ashley Hurst v SRA in January raises serious questions about the regulator’s approach to allegations of SLAPP-like behaviour.
Why menopause support belongs on every law firm’s agenda
Progression in the law slows significantly as women approach senior leadership. Most will be at the height of their careers around the average age menopause symptoms begin.
Law firms need to go beyond document checks
At the root of every failed compliance review is a familiar phrase: a calm assertion of “but we did a document check”.
