Regulation
High Court slaps barrister with civil restraint order over relentless challenges to disciplinary rulings
The High Court has issued a two-year civil restraint order against a barrister who has repeatedly and unsuccessfully challenged disciplinary findings made against him. The judge said he approached the task “with something of a heavy heart” given that it involved a member of the Bar.
Axiom fund claims another victim as solicitor is struck off with millions of pounds missing
A solicitor has been struck off after letting his firm be run by non-lawyers who then took more than £8m in funds supplied by the controversial Axiom Legal Financing Fund. He is the fifth solicitor to be struck off because of involvement with the Axiom fund.
Alcoholic solicitor struck off for client money misuse
A solicitor who used client money for her own benefit while she was suffering from alcoholism has been struck off. The medical evidence meant that the Solicitors Regulation Authority, prosecuting, dropped its allegations of dishonesty against her.
Chambers urged to shape up on diversity as discrimination claims rise
Chambers are seeing more grievances over discriminatory treatment by both employees and members, according to solicitors who advise them on dealing with their equality and diversity obligations. They said diversity presents a “particular challenge to chambers largely as a result of their unique business structure.
COFA sanctioned after client account was used as banking facility
A practice manager who is his firm’s compliance officer for finance and administration has been rebuked and fined by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for letting his firm’s client account be used as a banking facility among other offences.
High Court overturns SDT decision to throw out “badly prepared” case against solicitors
The High Court has overturned an unusual decision by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) to strike out for abuse of process the prosecution of five solicitors because the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) had failed to put forward a “coherent or manageable case to answer”.
Lawyer fined for dealing with clients behind firm’s back
A legal executive who acted for clients without telling her employer, and paid client money into her own bank account, has been fined £2,000 and restrictions placed on her practice now that she has qualified as a solicitor.
Barrister cops double suspension after immigration conviction
A barrister who was convicted last year of practising as an immigration adviser while his registration was suspended, has now been suspended from the Bar as well. Meanwhile, four unqualified immigration advisers have been convicted of offering services without being registered by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.
Solicitors will not countenance ‘self-dealing’ but are less bothered by those who bring weak cases
Solicitors view “self-dealing” – acting in their own, rather than the client’s, interests – money laundering, bribery and falsifying a CV as the most serious rule breaches, and bringing weak cases and mismanagement problems as the least, a major report has found.
Reprimand for barrister who encouraged client to seek out damaging information about fellow counsel
A barrister who encouraged a client to search online for damaging information about another member of the Bar, and then told her to deny that he had done so, has been reprimanded by a Bar disciplinary tribunal. It is the second reprimand from a tribunal for the barrister in eight months.
Blog
The SRA’s strict liability gamble has failed. Good
The Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in Dentons v SRA on 27 April, and the profession is right to welcome it. It is the second time in short succession that the court has corrected the SRA.
How AI presents real opportunities for barristers
AI presents real opportunities to improve access to justice and to support barristers in day-to-day legal practice. But we all need to understand and mitigate the risks.
Not everything can be a competition issue – a new dawn for consumer redress
Last month, the Law Commission launched a new project to “consider the potential introduction of a consumer class actions regime” in England and Wales.
