Regulation
Solicitor transferred property without asking co-owner
A solicitor who transferred the title of a property from a joint owner without checking whether they had agreed to it – and when they knew nothing about it – has been rebuked by the SRA.
Dozens of sexual misconduct cases head to tribunal
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal is expecting to adjudicate on a steady stream of sexual misconduct cases in the coming year, its annual budget has revealed.
Exclusive: CMA ramps up pressure on Bar Standards Board
The Competition and Markets Authority has ramped up the pressure on the Bar Standards Board over its decision to stop funding the cross-regulator Legal Choices website.
Solicitor who forged documents to fool SRA struck off
A solicitor who forged three documents to help him in an investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority has been struck off. He also forged the dates of legal charges and a mortgage deed.
Warning shot for BSB after it axes Legal Choices funding
The Legal Services Board has issued a thinly veiled warning to the Bar Standards Board over the need to invest “substantially” in consumer information after withdrawing from funding Legal Choices.
Woman faked email reference to get law firm job
A woman who set up a fake law firm email address so as to provide a bogus reference to a real firm looking to employ her has been banned from working in the profession.
Police question solicitors’ lack of terror finance reports
The low number of suspicious activity reports made by solicitors relating to possible terrorist financing indicates under-reporting, a senior policeman told the profession this week.
Review spells out toll of cyber-crime on law firms
A study of 40 law firms which suffered a cyber-attack over the past three years has found that more than £4m of client money was stolen from 23 of them.
LSB builds case for ‘continuing competence’ push
The Legal Services Board has heard calls for regulators to take a more “hands-on” approach to ensuring that lawyers remain competent through their careers.
Bar Council attacks “overwhelming” handbook updates
The Bar Council has strongly criticised the Bar Standards Board for bombarding barristers with updates to its handbook which risked becoming “overwhelming”.
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.
