Compliance & Regulation
Fine for law firm that allowed $23m to go through client account
A law firm run by an ex-Law Society president has been fined £68,000 for anti-money laundering failures, including allowing $23m to pass through its client account with no underlying legal work.
MoJ client account interest plan a “stealth tax on legal services”
The Ministry of Justice’s plan to use client account interest to fund its work is “nothing more than a stealth tax on legal services”, according to the first public response to its consultation.
Tribunal: AI use adds to doubts over would-be lawyer’s integrity
A legal practice course graduate seeking authorisation as an immigration adviser raised concerns about his integrity by citing fake cases generated by ChatGPT, a tribunal has ruled.
LSB, APIL and Law Centres Federation to intervene in Mazur
The Legal Services Board, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, and the Law Centres Federation have all been granted permission to intervene in next month’s Mazur appeal.
Solicitor struck off for selling property without co-owner’s knowledge
A solicitor who sold a property he part-owned without the knowledge of his co-owner has been struck off, with the SDT finding he was “primarily motivated” by resentment.
Lawyers sign letter to Starmer calling for “universal” anti-SLAPPs law
A group of media lawyers, including newspaper general counsel and KCs, have put their names to an open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling for stronger anti-SLAPP provisions.
Advice on conduct of litigation was not clear enough, LSB finds
Some of the information provided to lawyers over the years about the conduct of litigation was not clear enough, the Legal Services Board has concluded.
SQE delivering diverse cohort of students, figures show
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination is attracting a diverse range of candidates, with 35% from an ethnic minority and 37% from ‘less privileged’ backgrounds.
High Court rejects law firm’s challenge to costly LeO decision
The High Court has refused a law firm permission to challenge a decision of the Legal Ombudsman which cost it over £115,000 in compensation and reduced costs.
SRA issues ‘no win, no fee’ warning to counter poor behaviour
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued a warning notice on the use of ‘no win, no fee’ agreements in high-volume consumer claims amid multiple concerns about their misuse.
SDT draws line where solicitors should stop acting for clients
Doubts about a client’s truthfulness is not a good reason for solicitors to stop acting, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has stressed.
SRA ordered to pay solicitor £50k in costs after failed prosecution
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been ordered to pay a solicitor exonerated by a disciplinary tribunal £50,000 in costs.
GCs call on Law Society to withdraw whistleblowing guidance
A network of female general counsel has called on the Law Society to withdraw whistleblowing guidance for in-house lawyers, arguing that it “entrenches the longstanding bias against reporting”.
Strike off for solicitor who told colleague to lie
A family law solicitor who asked a newly qualified legal executive to lie to a litigant in person, having already lied to him herself, has been struck off.
Partner used client money to pay his tax bill
A partner at a London law firm responsible for dozens of unauthorised transfers from client account worth nearly £1.2m – in part to pay his tax bill – has been struck off.
Blog
Mazur: when regulators make simple things complicated
What the last six months have shown is that supervision cannot be treated as a background compliance obligation quietly managed somewhere in a firm’s operational processes.
How unstoppable AI is reshaping UK legal practice
At a time when most technology innovation still flows from the US and China, UK lawtech is attracting growing international attention and capital.
Modern vehicles: new injury profiles and new legal challenges
As the number of electric vehicles on UK roads continues to grow year-on-year, it is important to address the risks that come with their increased adoption.
