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
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.
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