Regulation

The number of law firms closed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority rose by 35% last year to 50, but the number of solicitors struck off fell, it has emerged.

Four partners at a Birmingham law firm have been fined a total of £35,000 for failing to keep dealings with client money in order for almost six years.

A man has pleaded guilty to five counts of providing unqualified immigration advice and services, some 13 years after an identical conviction.

Solicitors convicted separately of head-butting another parent at a children’s rugby match and making fraudulent expenses claims to the CPS have both been struck off.

More types of poor conduct by claimant solicitors in the holiday sickness market have been uncovered, their regulator has warned.

A struck-off solicitor called to give evidence over a will she drafted often said “the first thing that came into her without reflecting on whether it was correct”.

The Legal Services Board has approved new rules proposed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority requiring law firms to publish prices for a range of consumer and business services.

QCs should not lose their designation unless they are excluded from the profession and even then not automatically, the Bar Council has said.

The Court of Appeal has rejected what it described as a “cynical” attempt by two criminals to blame their barrister for confiscation orders made against them.

A solicitor has been fined £1,300 by the SRA for taking his fees from a rent deposit after the client switched firms, one of several sanctions handed out by the regulator.