Compliance & Regulation
Witnesses of fact and experts “should have to declare AI use” to court
The use of AI in preparing witness statements and expert reports should be declared to the court, the Civil Justice Council has recommended.
High Court judge reprimanded for judgment delays
A senior High Court judge has been issued with a reprimand for delays of up to 13 months in handing down five judgments.
SRA review sees disciplinary tribunal cases withdrawn
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has withdrawn several cases from the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal out of concern that it could not establish dishonesty.
Six out of 10 British Bar students do not secure a pupillage
Nearly six out of 10 Bar students from the UK do not secure a pupillage within five years of enrolling on their training courses, prompting the Bar Standards Board to launch a review.
Legal Services Board approves SRA approach to unlimited fine power
The Legal Services Board has approved the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s amended guidance that will allow it to issue unlimited fines in cases of economic crime.
Ex-partner reprimanded after SRA drops main allegations
A former partner at a national law firm has been reprimanded for a minor rule breach after the SRA withdrew more serious allegations shortly before his disciplinary hearing.
SRA moves to take unlimited fining power for economic crime
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has finally sought permission to activate its power to issue unlimited fines in cases involving economic crime.
SRA: Tribunal shortcomings and record reports about solicitors
One in five contested cases before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal last year did not lead to a conviction, by far the highest in recent years.
Non-solicitors sanctioned for sickies and intercepting post
An apprentice solicitor and a paralegal have been sanctioned for pulling sickies to hide an arrest and an employment tribunal hearing respectively.
Claimant motor finance lawyers back call for advertising ban
An influential law firm’s call for a temporary ban on advertising motor finance claims has found support from other leading solicitors in the field.
AML compliance improving but solicitors still fined £2.6m
Solicitors’ compliance with anti-money laundering rules has improved markedly in the past year – but they were still collectively fined £2.6m for failures.
SRA to reconsider misconduct report after judicial review threat
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has withdrawn decisions not to investigate a solicitor after being threatened with a judicial review.
SRA pushes “proactive supervision” as it mulls compliance role reform
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to focus on proactive supervision of higher-risk law firms as it considers changes to its compliance officer rules.
Exclusive: Leading law firm calls for ban on car finance claim adverts
The law firm with the biggest car finance claims book in the UK has today called for a temporary ban on all advertising for such claims.
Barrister disbarred following conviction for legal aid fraud
A barrister jailed in 2024 for defrauding the Legal Aid Agency by falsely claiming defence legal costs has now been disbarred.
Blog
When the person who needs help is the partner
A law firm can have excellent support on paper and still have a serious gap. The gap is the person who cannot imagine using it.
SRA supervision and AI: what firms will be asked to prove
AI intensifies scrutiny of whether firms can demonstrate that they were in control of the systems through which legal services were delivered.
How ELD NextGen will improve employers’ liability tracing
The Employers’ Liability Tracing Office is continuing work towards the launch of ELD NextGen, the next generation of the employers’ liability database, in early 2027.
Reports
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