Regulation
Judge rejects challenges to £13k award for age discrimination solicitor
A judge has refused applications from both sides to reconsider his decision to award an experienced property solicitor damages of £13,200 for age discrimination by a law firm.
Solicitor suspended for holiday sickness retainer failures
A law firm director has been suspended after failing to ensure that holiday sickness clients referred by introducers had instructed the firm or knew claims were being pursued on their behalf.
Ex-SDT chief urges ‘fitness to practise’ regime to help solicitors with mental health problems
The SRA needs to introduce a ‘fitness to practise’ regime as a better way to deal with young solicitors with mental health problems, the former chief executive of the SDT has told Legal Futures.
Solicitor cleared of beating bouncer with stiletto
A 5’2” commercial property solicitor has been cleared of assault by beating after she hit a nightclub bouncer over the head with her stiletto.
Accountants offered new route to setting up ABSs
Accountants and firms regulated by the ACCA will have a pathway to handling all the reserved activities under the plan to transfer supervision of their legal work to CILEx Regulation.
SFO charges three men over Axiom fund collapse
Two former solicitors and a former independent financial adviser have been charged with multiple offences in connection with the collapse of the Axiom Legal Financing Fund.
Struck-off solicitor’s comparison with George Floyd “a disgrace”
A struck-off solicitor’s comparison of his treatment at the hands of the Solicitors Regulation Authority with that of George Floyd by US police has been branded a “disgrace” by a tribunal.
Partner suspended over multiple money laundering failures
A partner in a law firm which acted mainly for Russian and Ukrainian clients has been suspended for nine months after admitting multiple breaches of the anti-money laundering rules.
Bar students call on regulator to waive exam requirement
A petition calling on the Bar Standards Board to waive the requirement that Bar students complete the centralised exams has attracted more than 1,000 signatures on its first day.
Solicitor struck off after 40-year career – for the sake of £100
An experienced conveyancer has been struck off for falsifying the completion date of a transaction in a report to tax authorities in order to avoid a late registration penalty of £100.
Blog
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
From ‘year zero’ to £6.5m – how a law firm found its second life
In 2018, I hit what I call ‘year zero’. On paper, Olliers Solicitors was a top-tier criminal defence firm but beneath the surface, I could see we were at a crossroads.
