Regulation
Principles for lawyers dealing with offshore structures published
International standards for lawyers advising on offshore commercial structures have been put forward at the same time as parliamentarians called for stronger laws on foreign ownership of UK property.
Proudman calls for 50% of all chambers’ members to be women
There should be a 50% target of women in all chambers, along with an independent office that is responsible for furthering equality and diversity at the Bar, a campaigner has argued.
Solicitor struck off for weaving elaborate “web of deception”
An experienced partner has been struck off after dishonestly drawing on hundreds of thousands of pounds of client money to top up private investments, and then covering it up with fake documents.
Solicitor’s “atrocious” conduct over child contact case condemned
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has struck off a solicitor whose conduct in a sensitive child contact case it described as “atrocious”. He was “motivated by his desire to cover up his incompetence”.
Solicitor “paid £1.5m in salaries from client account”
The boss of a high street law firm who paid over £1.5m in staff salaries from client account over more than five years has agreed to leave the profession. She blamed salary software for what happened.
“Too kind” solicitor struck off for backdating EPA to save client money
An experienced solicitor who tried to save an elderly client the cost of updating her power of attorney by dishonestly purporting to have witnessed it seven years earlier, has been struck off.
Licensed conveyancers set for practising fees cut
The body that regulates licensed conveyancers is looking at steep reductions in the cost of practising, arguing that “good regulation does not have to come with an onerous price tag”.
Law firm central to scheme that lost ‘hotel room’ investors £52m
A dubious ‘hotel room’ investment scheme involving a law firm cost nearly 900 investors up to £52m, a decision of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has revealed.
Inns of Court to re-enter training market with new Bar course
The Inns of Court are to re-enter the student training market and become the first to unveil plans to deliver the new Bar training course at a price 30% cheaper than the current BPTC as it is not-for-profit.
Nally speaks out against greater fining powers for SRA
The president of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has outlined his opposition to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s campaign for greater powers to fine errant solicitors.
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.
