Regulation
CMA’s Scotland probe highlights legal regulation reform priorities
The Competition and Markets Authority has hammered home its message of where legal services regulation needs to change as it begins a probe of the Scottish legal services market.
Solicitor who told secretaries to fabricate letters is suspended
A criminal law solicitor who admitted telling secretaries to fabricate and backdate letters, attendance notes and other documents to regularise his files has been suspended for nine months.
Law Commission rejects lawyers’ plea to narrow AML reporting
The Law Commission has rejected pleas from the legal profession to narrow the rule that all criminal activity that generates funds or other property is caught by the anti-money laundering regime.
Solicitor “used counsel and experts’ fees to prop up firm”
A solicitor who held on to money meant for counsel, experts and others for several years so as to aid his firm’s cash flow has been struck off. He only paid those who chased him for payment.
Firms receiving SRA advice “little better on AML than others”
Nearly half of solicitors’ firms that are part of the regulator’s relationship management regime have been referred to the disciplinary process for anti-money laundering failures, it has been disclosed.
SRA suggests requiring “cooling-off period” before NDAs are signed
Employees should be given a “cooling-off period” before signing non-disclosure agreements, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has suggested.
Quick u-turn as Law Society agrees to review NDA guidance
The Law Society has performed a rapid u-turn and agreed to review its controversial practice note on non-disclosure agreements, it confirmed today.
Anti-money laundering supervisor “should practise what it preaches”
The body that oversees legal regulators’ anti-money laundering efforts needs to show the same level of transparency that it is demanding of them, the Bar Council has said.
Legal aid lawyers “risk their mental health” with traumatic cases
Legal aid lawyers in serious cases deal with trauma that is bound to have an impact on them, and they also have to start showing compassion to junior staff who suffer from burnout.
Law Society set to snub MPs’ call for NDA guidance review
The Law Society has indicated that it has no plans to review its controversial practice note on non-disclosure agreements, despite the urging of MPs. But it may have over-egged the SRA’s support for the note.
Blog
Lessons from Sir Keir Starmer for SRA chief
The proposed 29%, or £25m, increase in the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s budget announced last week should really come as no great surprise.
The hidden risks in client account reconciliations
The client account reconciliation process will be second nature to most people in legal finance – and so is also a potential area for a problem to be undetected until it becomes serious.
Mentoring the next generation of litigation leaders
As a female lawyer, from the North, with a state school education, I understand the value of sharing perspectives, experiences and contacts.
