Regulation
Employed barristers need specialist training in “persuasive advocacy” beyond the courtroom
The needs of employed barristers should not be ignored and “second class citizenship” should “by now be a myth”, a former Crown prosecutor has said. Karen Squibb-Williams argued that specialist training should be introduced for employed barristers, including “persuasive advocacy” which could be used in the boardroom as much as the court.
High Court refers immigration solicitors to SRA after five “hopeless” judicial reviews
The High Court has referred an immigration practice to the Solicitors Regulatory Authority after reviewing five “hopeless” judicial reviews, each of which had already been deemed to be an abuse of process.
SRA hoping for end of “long journey” on consumer credit after FCA deal
The chair of the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said the end is in sight of its “long, long journey” on consumer credit after a last-minute deal with the Financial Conduct Authority.
SRA postpones introduction of third-party alternative to client account
The introduction of third-party managed accounts as an alternative to traditional client accounts will be postponed by at least a year to the end of 2016, the Solicitors Regulation Authority board decided yesterday. However, the board approved a mixed bag of deregulatory rule changes on other issues.
SRA hits back after Law Society attack on indemnity reforms
Paul Philip, chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, has hit back after the SRA’s latest indemnity insurance plans were fiercely criticised by the Law Society. He said the regulator had made “absolutely no new recommendations”.
Barrister and solicitor set up groundbreaking BSB-regulated firm
A barrister and solicitor have chosen the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to regulate their niche firm that specialises in defending teachers and other professionals in disciplinary actions. It is understood to be the first firm consisting of a barrister and solicitor to become a BSB entity.
Barrister sets up BSB-regulated firm to work for City solicitors
A barrister has set up a limited company, regulated by the Bar Standards Board, to work as a consultant for a leading City law firm. Jane Walshe said she was the first barrister to be authorised to work in this way.
Government-funded legal apprenticeships set to start next year
Legal apprenticeships funded by the government are on course to start next September, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers have confirmed.
Law firms need to work on giving female barristers equal “crack of the whip” on instructions
Male solicitors must be alert to their “unconscious assumptions” and ensure female barristers get an “equal crack of the whip in winning work on their merits”, the vice-chair of the Bar Standards Board has said. Patricia Robertson QC also said it was essential for women barristers to “find the right life partner”.
SDT strikes out case against solicitors after SRA failures make fair trial “impossible”
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has taken the highly unusual step of striking out for abuse of process the prosecution of five solicitors, after finding that the actions of the Solicitors Regulation Authority had made it impossible for them to have a fair trial.
Blog
The cost of systemic failure and childbirth injuries
Recent reports show that the NHS has paid almost £3.5bn in medical claims around childbirth injuries over the past six years.
Mazur: when regulators make simple things complicated
What the last six months have shown is that supervision cannot be treated as a background compliance obligation quietly managed somewhere in a firm’s operational processes.
How unstoppable AI is reshaping UK legal practice
At a time when most technology innovation still flows from the US and China, UK lawtech is attracting growing international attention and capital.
