Solicitors
Independent barristers “better quality” than other criminal advocates, say judges
The standard of criminal advocacy is “generally competent”, but that of solicitor-advocates and in-house barristers is inferior to the self-employed Bar, research among judges has found.
Slater & Gordon sanctioned for both sides of Quindell due diligence
Slater & Gordon has been rebuked and handed a record fine of £80,000 for an alternative business structure for inspecting confidential client data during the Quindell deal.
Solicitor who fabricated letter in “panic” avoids strike-off
A solicitor has been suspended from practice despite admitting to dishonestly fabricating a backdated letter to persuade the Solicitors Regulation Authority that she had sent it the previous year.
Court asks Attorney General to end solicitor’s vexatious litigation
The Attorney General is to be asked to put a permanent stop to years of vexatious litigation pursued by a struck-off solicitor against the Law Society, Bar Council, senior judges and many others.
Solicitor ended murder appeal without instructions and “disrespected the court”
A solicitor has been fined £12,500 for improperly ending a client’s appeal against her murder conviction without instructions and then repeatedly ignoring the appeal court’s invitation to explain his actions.
Solicitor who “lied on CVs” for training contract and associate job struck off
A solicitor who lied in her application for a training contract at Weightmans and then for a new job at DLA Piper after qualifying has been struck off.
Solicitor used £500,000 from client account to fund gambling addiction
A solicitor who used £500,000 of money in his firm’s client account to feed his gambling addiction – although he paid most of it back in winnings – has been struck off.
Solicitor unable to cope struck off for backdating letters “to buy time”
A young personal injury solicitor who dishonestly backdated 23 documents over a nine-month period to conceal inactivity as she supposedly struggled to keep on top of her workload, has been struck off.
Ban for law firm event executive who kept raffle prizes for herself
An events executive at a well-known London law firm who kept raffle prizes for herself has been banned from working in the profession.
SRA’s insurance reforms “piling too much risk on consumers”
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s plans to reform professional indemnity insurance and the compensation fund put too much risk on consumers without any commensurate benefit, a watchdog has warned.
Blog
Containing the spread of unapproved AI
Nearly 60% of fee-earners admit to using unapproved tools (like free versions of ChatGPT). Yet 68% of firm leaders are confident there is zero risk of unapproved AI being used for client work.
When AI adoption goes wrong, costs add up fast
City AM recently reported that London is fighting to claim the title of ‘global capital of legal AI’. However, it’s crucial we remember that adoption alone does not create value.
Gen Z lawyers vs identity, sacrifice and success
This conversation began with my training principal, who admitted something many senior lawyers quietly feel: “I struggle to understand what motivates Gen Z lawyers.”
