Solicitors
SRA hoping for end of “long journey” on consumer credit after FCA deal
The chair of the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said the end is in sight of its “long, long journey” on consumer credit after a last-minute deal with the Financial Conduct Authority.
SRA postpones introduction of third-party alternative to client account
The introduction of third-party managed accounts as an alternative to traditional client accounts will be postponed by at least a year to the end of 2016, the Solicitors Regulation Authority board decided yesterday. However, the board approved a mixed bag of deregulatory rule changes on other issues.
SRA hits back after Law Society attack on indemnity reforms
Paul Philip, chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, has hit back after the SRA’s latest indemnity insurance plans were fiercely criticised by the Law Society. He said the regulator had made “absolutely no new recommendations”.
Government-funded legal apprenticeships set to start next year
Legal apprenticeships funded by the government are on course to start next September, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers have confirmed.
SDT strikes out case against solicitors after SRA failures make fair trial “impossible”
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has taken the highly unusual step of striking out for abuse of process the prosecution of five solicitors, after finding that the actions of the Solicitors Regulation Authority had made it impossible for them to have a fair trial.
Bottom of the class: 15% of solicitors failed to do their minimum CPD hours last year
An online poll of 900 solicitors by the Law Society has revealed that 15% failed to do 16 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) last year – the minimum required. The poll found that 17% had already moved to the new hours-free ‘continuing competence’ regime.
“Fundamentally decent” partner broke rules to keep firm afloat while waiting for legal aid payments
A former president of Bolton Law Society, described by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal as a “fundamentally decent man”, made 61 improper transfers from client account and used a personal credit card to keep his firm afloat. He is now working as a paralegal for the deputy vice-president of the national Law Society.
Solicitor who fled country after SRA began investigation struck off
A solicitor who absconded the day after the Solicitors Regulation Authority began investigating his firm has been struck off in his absence for overbilling and for taking money from client accounts. One of his partners said his behaviour changed once the investigation started.
PC fee does not represent value for money, solicitors tell Law Society
The vast majority of solicitors who responded to a Law Society survey on the practising certificate fee said they thought it did not represent value for money. Many said the Law Society should get a bigger share and the Solicitors Regulation Authority a smaller one.
Law Society told to disclose letters about ‘Harry Potter solicitor’
The Law Society has been told by its freedom of information adjudicator to disclose letters and reports involving the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the charity run by Alan Blacker, the solicitor also known as Lord Harley, Legal Futures understands.
Blog
The AI question law firms should answer before a client asks it
Most law firms we speak to are already using AI, whether or not they have approved it, because fee-earners are doing it anyway. The tool people settle on is often Claude.
From chat to Cowork: preparing your law firm for agentic AI
AI is evolving quickly. For law firms still working out how to get consistent value from the tools they already have, the conversation has moved on again to agentic AI.
Why good governance matters when managing Law Society forms
Everyday legal transactions rely on Law Society forms. But they are often treated as static templates rather than what they really are: living documents that change over time.
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