Solicitors
SIF rule could be “catastrophic” for retired solicitors
Refusal by the Solicitors Indemnity Fund to accept notifications of potential claims could be “catastrophic” for retired solicitors, a specialist in professional regulation and insurance has warned.
Barristers and solicitor sanctioned for drink-driving
A leading silk who drove his car into a ditch while under the influence of alcohol has been fined £600 by the Bar Standards Board, one of three recent disciplinary cases involving drink-driving lawyers.
SDT throws out case against Law Society vice-president
A disciplinary tribunal has thrown out as groundless an attempt to bring misconduct proceedings against the vice-president of the Law Society, in a rare private prosecution brought by a former client.
Struck-off solicitor re-admitted despite SRA objections
A struck-off senior partner has been restored to the roll over the objections of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, less than seven years after he was first barred from practising as a solicitor.
Trainee sanctioned for trying to mislead third party
A trainee solicitor who amended a document in order to mislead a third party has been rebuked and banned from working in the profession without the permission of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
CA quashes paralegal’s “unfair” contempt sentence
It was “manifestly unfair” for a circuit judge to issue a paralegal with a suspended six-month prison sentence for inadvertently breaching the Family Procedure Rules, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Solicitor “offered client money” to withdraw complaint
A solicitor who offered a client money to withdraw a complaint against him has been struck off. He also created a false settlement agreement that saw a client pay money to a fictitious claimant.
Solicitors given insurance warning over freelance status
Solicitors who take on the new freelance status may find it difficult to return to working for law firms due to insurance problems, the Law Society has warned.
Unregulated firms should offer solicitors “ethics guarantee”
Solicitors working for unregulated entities under new rules should seek contractual assurances from their employers that their professional obligations cannot be overridden, the Law Society has advised.
Law firms “need data-sharing guidance” to avoid GDPR breaches
The Information Commissioner needs to provide specific guidance to law firms on how they can lawfully share personal data, a leading City law firm has argued.
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.
