Regulation
SRA warns firms and solicitors: co-operate or else
The Solicitors Regulation Authority sent out a strong message yesterday that firms which fail to co-operate with it will face tough action. It also emerged that the SRA is set to share details of the risks it considers law firms face with their COLPs and COFAs.
Susskind lays out blueprint for education and training reform
The Legal Education and Training Review (LETR) should recruit a high-powered team of young lawyers to vet its proposals and provide fresh insights into the future of the legal marketplace, Professor Richard Susskind has urged.
The legal lot of the asylum seeker: complex system, hard-to-find lawyers and “sloppy” advice
Vulnerable asylum seekers are at risk of “serious detriment” from a complex asylum process and potentially “sloppy” work by immigration advisers, according to the Legal Services Consumer Panel.
High Court throws out racial discrimination challenge to SDT ruling
The High Court has thrown out a solicitor’s challenge to the decision to suspend him, which he argued was tainted by racial discrimination. Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said that “no scintilla of discrimination of any kind is detectible”.
High Court backs SRA bid to increase suspension of solicitor to a strike-off
The High Court has struck off a solicitor who was only suspended by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The Solicitors Regulation Authority appealed the February 2011 decision to suspend him for three years, even though he was found him to have acted dishonestly.
Bar Council: solicitors to blame for falling criminal advocacy standards
It is solicitors, and not barristers, who are to blame for the decline in advocacy standards that has led to the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA), the Bar Council has claimed, while also strongly opposing the creation of ‘plea-only advocates’.
Regulators urged to help “scared” consumers make complaints to their lawyers
Regulators need to take urgent action to improve the way lawyers handle complaints after a “hard-hitting” new report highlighted multiple failings. However, although clients are often scared to complain, a positive experience when they do can actually make them likely to recommend the provider.
QASA will drive solicitors out of criminal law, Law Society warns
The Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) will drive many solicitors out of criminal law, the Law Society has warned. It is the latest hostile response to the final consultation on the scheme ahead of its introduction in January.
COLPs "need access to external legal advice" if facing conflict with firm management
Compliance officers for legal practice (COLPs) should be allowed to buy in independent external advice at their firm’s expense in the event of a conflict with management, according to two senior solicitor consultants.
Law Society takes equity stake in compliance software business
The Law Society has taken the unusual step of investing in a company set up by a non-lawyer law firm partner to sell a groundbreaking web-based risk and compliance software package for solicitors.
Blog
Amplifying reach through employee-driven thought leadership
Nine in 10 executives believe thought leadership is critical to building authority, yet only a quarter feel they have implemented a robust strategy.
Divorce escrow: asset sales before final settlement
When significant matrimonial assets are sold before a final financial order is agreed, holding the proceeds safely and neutrally can present real practical challenges.
AML lacks clarity – and standards are suffering
If firms are buckling under the pressure of AML regulations, subject to ever-increasing fines, then something is clearly not working as it should be.
