Solicitors
Solicitor paid himself over £800k from litigation funding schemes
A solicitor who paid himself £817,000 out of litigation funding schemes set up to back his law firm has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
From 100% to 37% – huge variation in LPC providers’ pass rates
Some institutions teaching the legal practice course have recorded 100% pass rates, while others are under 50%, and a performance gap based on student ethnicity continues.
Court refuses to overturn solicitor’s sole practitioner ban
The High Court has rejected a solicitor’s appeal against a decision to ban him from working as a sole practitioner, after a tribunal found he had been “sloppy, lazy and careless”.
Supervising solicitor “told paralegal to lie” to barrister
An experienced personal injury paralegal who lied to a barrister and legal expenses insurer “on instruction from her supervising solicitor” has been prohibited from working for law firms without permission.
SRA defends tribunal over bullied whistleblower
The chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority has spoken out in defence of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over its decision to strike off bullied whistleblower Emily Scott.
“Web sweep” of 500 firms to check prices are published
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to carry out randomised “web sweeps” of around 500 law firms over the next few months to check they are publishing fees for certain consumer and business transactions.
Firm sent letters with Latin phrases despite client’s learning difficulty
A law firm sent a vulnerable client letters full of Latin and technical phrases, despite being repeatedly told the client had a learning difficulty and needed communications to be in plain English, according to the Legal Ombudsman.
LSB closes Law Society investigation after censure prompts reform
The Legal Services Board has closed its investigation into the Law Society’s governance arrangements – which led to an unprecedented public censure last year – after a series of reforms.
Solicitor put “financial gain for family” before clients
A solicitor who let her daughter live rent-free in a probate property amid a string of offences – including allowing a client to make her a beneficiary of their will – has been struck off.
Solicitor grabbed £90,000 of client money to pay tax bill
A solicitor who took £90,000 from client account to pay his personal tax bill and avoid bankruptcy has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Blog
From ‘year zero’ to £6.5m – how a law firm found its second life
In 2018, I hit what I call ‘year zero’. On paper, Olliers Solicitors was a top-tier criminal defence firm but beneath the surface, I could see we were at a crossroads.
Linklaters’ chief growth officer takes the ‘blank sheet’ challenge
In the third and final part of this series, Lucy Murphy, chief growth officer at magic circle firm Linklaters, outlines her vision for the law firm of the future.
The ‘blank sheet’ challenge, part 2 – what would you do differently?
In the second part of this blog series, Shainul Kassam, managing director of small London firm Fortune Law, sets out how she would set up a law firm now.
