Regulation
Male solicitor suspended for groping and sexting colleague
A male solicitor who groped a junior female colleague on two occasions and accepted a police caution for sending her an obscene text message has been suspended for 18 months.
Barrister sanctioned for “seriously offensive” tweet
A barrister who sent a “seriously offensive” tweet that was “racially charged and derogatory to women” has been reprimanded and given a “low-level” fine of £1,000.
SRA pledges to speak out on access to justice problems
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has pledged to add its “unique voice” to the wider policy debate on access to justice issues as it looks to become more assertive.
LeO wants to publish complaints decisions in full
The Legal Ombudsman could start publishing its full decisions, as well as annual reviews of the most complained-about lawyers and firms, to improve the quality of information it makes available.
Aspiring barristers “not told reality of obstacles facing them”
Students aspiring to careers as barristers are not always told honestly the difficulties they will face with obtaining a pupillage and funding their studies, according to a retired High Court judge.
US firm partner struck off for £25k of bogus expenses claims
A former partner in the London office of US firm Akin Gump has been struck off after making nearly £25,000 of false expenses claims. He said he was suffering from a severe depressive illness.
MP calls on SRA to investigate law firm in NHS dispute
MP Sir Norman Lamb has called on the SRA to investigate national law firm Hill Dickinson over claims it failed to disclose a crucial document in a whistleblowing dispute involving the NHS.
Bad behaviour by male barristers “still abounds”
Inappropriate behaviour by male barristers in robing rooms and at Bar messes “still abounds”, with many women afraid to speak out, the Association of Women Barristers has said.
SRA could tell law firms to pay for trainees’ SQE skills tests
The SRA could ask law firms to pay for their own research and writing skills tests when hiring trainees, instead of testing them in stage 1 of the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam, it has emerged.
SRA “wrong” to sanction solicitor for nanny discrimination
The Solicitors Regulation Authority was wrong to sanction a senior finance partner at City giant Hogan Lovells for discriminating against his children’s pregnant nanny, a leading regulatory QC has said.
Blog
Is your Google Ads budget funding your competitors’ AI visibility?
If your cost-per-click has crept up again this year, you’ve probably assumed the market simply got more expensive. That’s the wrong way to read what’s happening.
Containing the spread of unapproved AI
Nearly 60% of fee-earners admit to using unapproved tools (like free versions of ChatGPT). Yet 68% of firm leaders are confident there is zero risk of unapproved AI being used for client work.
When AI adoption goes wrong, costs add up fast
City AM recently reported that London is fighting to claim the title of ‘global capital of legal AI’. However, it’s crucial we remember that adoption alone does not create value.
