Solicitors
Solicitor handed suspended sentence over indecent images
A solicitor who downloaded thousands of indecent images of children and shared some of the material online has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
“Genius” solicitor struck off after threatening to “end the SRA”
A solicitor has been struck off after trying to intimidate an officer from the Solicitors Regulation Authority by saying he was “genius level talent” who would sue the officer and “end the SRA”.
Insurer fails in aggregation argument over partner’s multi-million pound thefts
The High Court has refused to aggregate as one claim various actions a Yorkshire law firm’s indemnity insurer is facing because of a multi-million pound fraud run by one of its partners.
Clients chose solicitor to be their “puppet” in dubious transaction
An immigration lawyer who made what he described as “huge money” by facilitating a dubious international finance transaction has been suspended indefinitely by a tribunal.
Solicitor suspended after struck-off brother takes blame
A solicitor who overcharged two estates by £275,000 has been struck off, but his partner – and younger brother – has avoided the same sanction after saying he was “too trusting”.
Prepare now for negative interest rates, law firms told
Law firms have been urged to change their retainers now so they can charge clients for holding their money, given the “possibility, if not likelihood” of negative interest rates.
SRA eyes “activity based licences” and scheme for unregulated providers
The Solicitors Regulation Authority could offer “activity-based licences”, allowing lawyers to provide individual reserved legal activities instead of its current ‘all or nothing’ approach to regulation.
LSB approves new route to qualifying as a solicitor
The new way of qualifying as a solicitor, including passing a centralised, two-part examination, will go live from 1 September 2021 after the Legal Services Board approved the reforms.
SRA puts consolidator into liquidation owing £17m
The 16-office law firm consolidator shut down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in August has been placed into liquidation owing creditors nearly £17m.
Solicitor admits losing control of his firm’s accounts
A solicitor who said he was “unable to take control” of his firm’s accounts when he started receiving client money – he admitted not knowing interest should be paid to clients – has been fined £10,000.
Blog
Modern search is about ‘knowledge’ retrieval
Search has long been understood as data retrieval – the ability to call back information and check a box on finding something. Legal professionals today need more of a 360-degree view on a matter.
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.
