Regulation
Solicitor who made “catastrophic decisions” is struck off
An immigration lawyer who made “catastrophic decisions” to channel fees from an “inherently vulnerable” asylum seeker into her personal bank account has been struck off.
Legal advice must be “dominant purpose” for privilege to apply
Legal advice privilege only applies where documents were created with the “dominant purpose” of seeking or providing legal advice, appeal judges have ruled.
Conveyancing revolution to hit over next decade
The role of the conveyancer is undoubtedly going to change as much of the administrative side of the role becomes automated over the coming years, a new report has predicted.
Solicitor and boyfriend face jail over legal aid fraud
A solicitor and her boyfriend who defrauded the taxpayer out of £63,000 by inflating translation costs for legal aid documents are facing jail.
Bar investigates training on how to deal with suicidal clients
The Bar Council is to explore how to deliver training to barristers about dealing with suicidal clients after a family law practitioner related her own harrowing experiences confronting the issue.
Solicitor struck off for historic harassment convictions
A solicitor who was convicted of harassment offences in Norway at the start of the century, and did not report them to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, has been struck off.
Solicitors banned as directors over investor cash misuse
Two solicitors have been handed 13-year director disqualifications after they misled people to invest £1.4m in a legal insurance product they never actually developed.
Chambers introduces mandatory “anti-oppression” training
A London chambers has made it compulsory for all members to attend “anti-oppression” sessions covering the range of protected characteristics.
“Disorganised” housing solicitor fined £25,000
A “disorganised” legal aid lawyer who said he wanted “to direct his time and focus to the legal work” of his practice has been fined £25,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
LSB launches continuing competence inquiry
The Legal Services Board has launched a call for evidence on continuing competence, the first stage in a promised review of the issue that could lead to periodic checks on lawyers’ fitness to practise.
Blog
SEO is changing: Are you measuring the right things?
AI means firms may see falling organic traffic and wonder if SEO is still working. The more interesting question is whether traffic is still the right measure of success.
Forms are evolving – and more interesting than you might think
I have spent much of my working life thinking about something most people would probably prefer not to think about at all: legal forms.
The questions that determine if the SRA’s client money reforms will work
Both reforms respond to real and well-evidenced gaps in the current framework. The SRA’s changes after consultation feedback shows it’s listening. But structural change on paper is only half the job.
Reports
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