Solicitors

Plans by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to introduce a centralised test for solicitors wanting higher rights of audience have divided opinions among organisations and individual solicitors.

Paul Baxendale-Walker, a struck-off solicitor who went on to become an adult film producer and actor, and bought Loaded magazine, has been handed a 10-year bankruptcy restrictions order.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has today outlined a significant relaxation of its rules for law students and trainees to allow more of their assessment to go online.

Criminal defence solicitors have threatened to stop attending police stations and a protocol to protect pupil barristers was published among efforts to protect the profession during the pandemic.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has finally issued guidance to those it regulates on dealing with the coronavirus, stressing it will be “pragmatic” when taking action over rule breaches.

A solicitor described as “self-critical to an extent that was beyond any fault found” has been cleared of dishonesty after facilitating a transaction which bore the hallmarks of mortgage fraud.

Legal professionals involved in court and tribunal hearings, as well as those advising people deprived of their liberty or on executing wills are ‘keyworkers’, the Ministry of Justice has said.

A partner who used his law firm’s office and client accounts as personal banking facilities has been fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

There has been a “strong improvement” among the legal regulators in their approach to anti-money laundering, their oversight body has reported.

More use of fixed fees and an increase in the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s fining powers are among recommendations made today by the Legal Services Consumer Panel.