Regulation
Solicitor wrote cheque to himself from client account
A solicitor who was cautioned by the police for fraud after writing a cheque for £2,000 from client account to himself has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Solicitors caught in dubious schemes “fail in due diligence”
Solicitors generally fail to carry out due diligence exercises on the people behind what turn out to be dubious investment schemes, a review by the Solicitors Regulation Authority has found.
Solicitor under-declared sale prices to pocket stamp duty
A solicitor who falsified returns to HM Revenue & Customs so as to underpay stamp duty land tax and pocket the difference in a bid to keep his firm afloat has been struck off.
City solicitor suspended after second police cocaine caution
A City solicitor who received a second police caution for possessing cocaine – but failed to report it out of fear of losing his job and marriage – has been banned from practice for a year.
Technical problems hit 11% of BPTC students
Some 11% of Bar professional training course students taking their first exam online this week have experienced technical problems, the Bar Standards Board said today.
Chambers blames government approach to justice system for decision to close
The impact of Covid-19 on the justice system and the government’s response has led a mid-sized London set to announce its closure, saying members are not prepared to take the financial risk they are facing.
Muslim Bar student “forced to defer exam” over headscarf removal demand
A Muslim Bar student felt forced to defer her exams because the BSB said she had to remove her headscarf for ID purposes but could not guarantee that it would be a woman who would watch.
LSB demands greater transparency on practising fees
Legal regulators will have to explain more clearly how they spend their practising certificate fees under revised rules proposed by the Legal Services Board.
67% of solicitors tell Law Society PC fee is not value for money
Two-thirds of solicitors do not consider the practising certificate fee value for money, with many expressing concern at the level being charged given the impact of Covid-19.
Barristers step in to support beleaguered Bar students
Barristers have offered to support the dozens of Bar students who have so far reported major problems with taking their exams, including having to urinate into bottles and buckets at their desks.
Blog
Strong AML controls are meaningless with incomplete data
One expectation as the FCA takes control of anti-money laundering oversight is a move towards more supervision rather than simply writing new rules.
Navigating the legal AI productivity-profitability paradox
Firms are achieving efficiencies through AI, especially in the practice of law. Yet many are struggling to see that reflected in their financial outcomes
Regulation, growth and access to justice: why legal services need a reset
Well-intentioned consumer protections embedded in the regulation of legal services increasingly act as barriers to innovation, competition and access to justice.
