Regulation
LSB rule change to put spotlight on spending by professional bodies
The Legal Services Board has announced a change in its practising certificate fee rules, which will put the spotlight on spending by professional bodies such as the Law Society and Bar Council. Both professional bodies opposed the change.
Solicitor “unable to distinguish right from wrong” fined £10,000
A sole practitioner who claimed to be “unable to distinguish right from wrong” has been fined £10,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The tribunal said Claire Flood’s decision to transfer money from client accounts to pay her tax bill lacked “moral soundness, rectitude and a steady adherence to an ethical code”.
A seven-page code and solicitors practising wherever they want – the SRA’s vision of the future
The Solicitors Regulation Authority yesterday unveiled a seven-page code of conduct for solicitors and six-page code for firms as part of a radical shake-up of the way it oversees the profession. The most significant change, if approved, would mean that solicitors could deliver unreserved services to the public from organisations that were not regulated by the SRA.
Major study: Some in-house lawyers find their ethics “under pressure”
Half of in-house lawyers face having to advise on ethically or legally debatable actions, while a similar number complain that actions are sometimes taken against their advice on “legally important matters”, a major report has revealed.
SRA bows to pressure and puts SQE on hold
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has bowed to fierce opposition from universities and law schools, and put its plans to introduce a new centralised assessment test for future solicitors on hold. The SRA’s board was due to decide on whether to go ahead at its meeting yesterday.
Bogus solicitor who ‘stole’ law firm’s name given suspended sentence
A bogus solicitor who provided immigration advice while using the name of a legitimate law firm has been handed a suspended prison sentence. Peter Campbell, 40, of Forest Gate, London, pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to 10 charges of providing unregulated immigration advice and services.
LSB not convinced by plan to force law firms to publish prices
The Legal Services Board has said that “further discussion and evidence” is needed before it is prepared to back proposals to force law firms to publish average prices. The LSB was responding to a report by the Legal Services Consumer Panel.
High Court rejects appeal from solicitor who “neither thought nor cared about” the rules
The High Court has rejected an appeal against striking off from a solicitor who “neither thought nor cared about” the rules governing his profession. Robert Scott argued that because he had been found not to have acted dishonestly, he could not be found to have lacked integrity.
Third judge sacked for viewing pornography at work failed to disclose it to SRA
A third judge removed from the bench for watching pornography on judicial IT equipment has admitted not telling the Solicitors Regulation Authority about it when applying for a practising certificate shortly afterwards.
Government eyes stronger powers to discipline solicitors as part of insurance fraud crackdown
The government yesterday accepted recommendations for stronger fining powers for the Solicitors Regulation Authority, a lower burden of proof before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, and the need to introduce further measures to discourage ‘late’ personal injury claims, in the next stage of its crackdown on fraudulent behaviour.
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.
