Regulation
Consumer panel urges more fixed fees and SRA fining powers
More use of fixed fees and an increase in the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s fining powers are among recommendations made today by the Legal Services Consumer Panel.
Ban for legal executive who used own money to cover error
A chartered legal executive who covered up a mistake by paying a client her own money to increase her settlement has been banned from working for solicitors’ firms.
Covid-19 round-up: BSB reassures barristers about rule breaches
Barristers who follow official guidance on Covid-19 will not be in breach of their professional obligations, the BSB has said amid a range of developments in the courts, PI and conveyancing.
SRA to make immigration regulation permanent
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is set to extend indefinitely the suspension of immigration work from its removal of restrictions on solicitors providing non-regulated services.
SRA rebukes Withers for money laundering training delay
Leading London law firm Withers has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for failing to ensure staff received timely anti-money laundering training.
SRA: “Solicitors conceal disability for fear of harming careers”
Many disabled solicitors have downplayed the extent of their disability because they don’t trust law firms to treat them equally with their able colleagues, new research has revealed.
Law firm rebuked for breach of undertaking
A law firm in Suffolk has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for breaching an undertaking in a conveyancing transaction.
Solicitor overlooked AML because client was law firm partner
A solicitor acting in a property transaction has admitted not following anti-money laundering procedures because her client was a partner at a large international law firm.
Flight delays solicitor suspended for “taking shortcuts”
One of the first solicitors to enter the flight delay compensation market expanded his firm too quickly and took “shortcuts in the way he managed the claims”, a tribunal has found.
71 bang on the drum for freelance solicitor status
Some 71 solicitors have so far taken advantage of new rules allowing them to practise as freelancers, it has emerged. The SRA is also to issue 20 pieces of new guidance on the STaRs.
Blog
The hidden risks in client account reconciliations
The client account reconciliation process will be second nature to most people in legal finance – and so is also a potential area for a problem to be undetected until it becomes serious.
Mentoring the next generation of litigation leaders
As a female lawyer, from the North, with a state school education, I understand the value of sharing perspectives, experiences and contacts.
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.
