Solicitors
Firm shut down after solicitor who forged cheques as trainee is struck off
The Solicitors Regulation Authority last week shut down a north-west London law firm shortly after an accountant who went on to train as a solicitor at the firm was struck off for preparing fraudulent cheques and forging partners’ signatures.
Hat-trick of appeal wins for East London firm as it overturns wasted costs order
A small East London law firm has scored a hat-trick of successful appeals against sanctions after overturning a wasted costs order at the Employment Appeal Tribunal, following challenges to the Legal Ombudsman and Solicitors Regulation Authority.
There is a “huge future” for high street firms, new SPG chairman says
There is a “huge future” for high street law firms, but the way ahead will be for practices to become more specialised, the new chairman of the Sole Practitioners Group (SPG) has said.
Only one solicitor sent to SDT over referral fee ban as large CMCs thrive
Only one solicitor has been sent to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for breaching the ban on referral fees in personal injury cases, it has emerged. Meawhile, the head of claims management regulation said the “biggest CMCs are making more and more money”.
High Court backs SRA over bankruptcy costs claim
The High Court has backed the Solicitors Regulation Authority in denying a trustee in bankruptcy the right to deduct his costs from client funds held by a solicitors’ practice after the principals were made bankrupt.
SRA board backs radical changes to separate business rule
The Solicitors Regulation Authority approved a radical overhaul of the separate business rule at its board meeting yesterday, despite strong opposition from the Law Society. The changes are planned to come into force on 1 November this year.
Lawyers urged to play it cool with litigants in person
Solicitors, barristers and legal executives have been told by their professional bodies to be polite and non-judgemental when dealing with litigants in person (LiPs), and take “extra care to avoid using inflammatory words or phrases”.
Solicitor jailed for role in £4.3m land-banking scam
A solicitor has been jailed for five and a half years for his role in a £4.3m land-banking scam. Dale Walker was convicted of possessing criminal property and of aiding and abetting the carrying on of a regulated activity without authorisation.
Little interest from solicitors in third-party client accounts, survey suggests
Only 5% of solicitors would be interested in transferring their client accounts to a third party, a survey of firms in the south east has suggested. The SRA is consulting on whether to allow the move.
SRA mulls centralised assessment of would-be solicitors as City firm launches ‘earn as you learn’ qualification
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has begun work on developing a “centralised assessment of competence” that potential solicitors would have to pass to qualify, it has emerged. It comes as Mayer Brown became the first City law firm to unveil a six-year ‘articled apprenticeship’ programme.
Blog
Accountability has to live within governance, not with one person
The assumption has long been that a COLP or COFA is personally exposed to the consequences of anti-money laundering breaches.
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
