Regulation
Bid to reduce “low-quality” money laundering reports
High numbers of low-quality suspicious activity reports are making it difficult to investigate money laundering, the Law Commission has warned.
Unqualified legal services company staff convicted of fraud
Four managers of an unregulated company that offered legal services have been convicted of defrauding clients and unlawfully providing immigration advice.
Solicitor fined after “misleading” website went live
A solicitor has been fined for allowing a misleading website to appear, purporting to suggest he ran an award-winning multi-national firm when he did not.
Judges accused of £12.6m legal aid scam appear in court
Three judges and six other lawyers arrested over an alleged plot to scam £12.6m from the legal aid system have appeared in court.
‘Death threat’ solicitor struck off over client money
A solicitor who claimed she transferred over £250,000 from her firm’s client account to third parties amid threats to her life has been struck off.
New barrister firm offers fixed fees for arbitration
A barrister who worked as an advocate at City law firms has set up a niche commercial firm regulated by the BSB, offering arbitration clients fixed fees.
SDT condemns Asons for “disgraceful” client letters
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has described letters sent to clients by failed Bolton law firm Asons as “disgraceful” and “self-serving”.
CILEx to become ABS regulator no.6
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives is set to become the sixth body allowed to license alternative business structures after its application was approved by the Lord Chancellor.
SDT consults on adopting civil standard of proof
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal inched closer to adopting a civil standard of proof yesterday when it published a consultation on ditching the criminal standard.
Law firm call-centre worker banned over fraud
A call-centre worker at a leading debt recovery law firm has been banned from working in the profession after trying to defraud debtors.
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”.
