Regulation
Barristers and solicitor sanctioned for drink-driving
A leading silk who drove his car into a ditch while under the influence of alcohol has been fined £600 by the Bar Standards Board, one of three recent disciplinary cases involving drink-driving lawyers.
SDT throws out case against Law Society vice-president
A disciplinary tribunal has thrown out as groundless an attempt to bring misconduct proceedings against the vice-president of the Law Society, in a rare private prosecution brought by a former client.
Struck-off solicitor re-admitted despite SRA objections
A struck-off senior partner has been restored to the roll over the objections of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, less than seven years after he was first barred from practising as a solicitor.
Barrister’s latest complaint over Briggs ruling rejected
The High Court has refused a barrister permission to challenge a decision by the Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman over a complaint she made about Supreme Court justice Lord Briggs.
Trainee sanctioned for trying to mislead third party
A trainee solicitor who amended a document in order to mislead a third party has been rebuked and banned from working in the profession without the permission of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Review: Regulate all legal services but at different levels
An alternative regulatory regime that sees all legal services regulated, but providers subject to different requirements depending on the work they do, has been mooted by an independent review.
CA quashes paralegal’s “unfair” contempt sentence
It was “manifestly unfair” for a circuit judge to issue a paralegal with a suspended six-month prison sentence for inadvertently breaching the Family Procedure Rules, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Solicitor “offered client money” to withdraw complaint
A solicitor who offered a client money to withdraw a complaint against him has been struck off. He also created a false settlement agreement that saw a client pay money to a fictitious claimant.
Labour eyes privilege reform to hit tax avoidance “enablers”
The Labour Party will look at the role of privilege in hindering the criminal prosecution of professionals advising on tax avoidance, shadow chancellor has said.
BSB delays introduction of written pupillage agreements
The Bar Standards Board has delayed plans to require chambers to enter into written agreements with pupils, which were due to come into force in just two months’ time.
Blog
Listening, learning and leading The Solicitor’s Charity with care
As I prepare to hand over the mantle of chair of The Solicitor’s Charity next month, it doesn’t feel like an end. Instead, it feels like a wonderful journey.
Is competition in the legal sector stifling innovation?
As the legal sector’s competitive landscape continues to evolve, Nobel laureates remind us that innovation is not inevitable,and that competition may not always be an incentive to innovate.
What high-performing consumer claims firms get right
Recurring concerns about parts of the volume claims sector show that the gap between well-run firms and those struggling to manage volume effectively is widening.
