Compliance & Regulation
Big disparity in Bar course pass rates across providers
There is a significant attainment gap between providers of the Bar training course, ranging from a pass rate of 94% at the highest to 49% at the lowest.
“Deconstructed SQE” could be end-point test for three professions
The SQE could be deconstructed and its modules used to form the “final end-point test” for chartered legal executives and licensed conveyancers as well as solicitors.
Bar regulator faces formal LSB action over performance crisis
The LSB has begun talking about taking formal action against the BSB over shortcomings in its performance, which it has emerged include how it has dealt with the Post Office scandal.
Bar regulator counts cost of “extremely challenging year”
The Bar Standards Board has described how it “struggled” to hit timeliness targets in an “extremely challenging year” for its enforcement work.
LSB bids to improve legal sector’s focus on vulnerable clients
Encouraging lawyers to embed client vulnerability into the design of their services is set to be a new Legal Services Board project next year, it said yesterday.
Tweeting barrister sues BSB for belief discrimination
A barrister who overturned a Bar Standards Board sanction for a tweet about Muslims that it said would cause offence is now suing the regulator for discrimination.
BSB mulls SLAPPs guidance as Zahawi’s solicitors are referred to SRA
The BSB is considering following the SRA in issuing guidance on SLAPPs. It comes as the solicitors acting for Conservative Party chairman Nadeem Zahawi have been reported under the SRA notice.
Solicitor jailed for 12 years for castle fraud after private prosecution
A solicitor has been jailed for 12 years for fraud by abuse of a position of trust following a private prosecution brought by his former client.
Ban for conveyancer who took second job with client on the quiet
A licensed conveyancer who took a second job working for a client without telling her firm, and then failed to follow its procedures when dealing with him, has been sanctioned for her misconduct.
Chambers focusing diversity efforts on access to the Bar, not retention
Chambers are focusing their efforts to improve racial diversity on recruitment rather than progression or retention, a Bar Council report has found.
Banks stopping law firms with licences acting for sanctioned people
There have been “numerous scenarios” where banks have stopped solicitors working under government licences for those subject to UK sanctions by refusing to process transactions, the SRA has said.
Warning for profession, help for public – SRA steps up SLAPPs pressure
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is now investigating 29 cases where law firms might be involved in SLAPPs, it revealed yesterday as it issued a warning notice over such abusive litigation.
Pioneering apprentices qualify as solicitors at leading law firm
Seven apprentices at the first large law firm to run the training scheme – which takes six years and includes a law degree – have qualified as solicitors.
Solicitor had “massive holes” in accounts knowledge
A law firm owner who admitted having “massive holes” in her knowledge of the accounts rules has been fined £5,000 after letting a £41,000 shortfall build up on client account.
Solicitor struck off for single incident of “manifest incompetence”
A solicitor whose incompetence enabled the transfer of an elderly man’s property to fraudsters for no consideration has been struck off, even although it was a single incident in a 19-year career.
Blog
Why later-life divorce requires a distinct professional framework
Later-life divorce, often described as ‘silver splitter’ or ‘grey divorce’ cases, is no longer a marginal feature of family law practice. It challenges long-standing assumptions about how divorce work is done.
Listening, learning and leading The Solicitor’s Charity with care
As I prepare to hand over the mantle of chair of The Solicitor’s Charity next month, it doesn’t feel like an end. Instead, it feels like a wonderful journey.
Is competition in the legal sector stifling innovation?
As the legal sector’s competitive landscape continues to evolve, Nobel laureates remind us that innovation is not inevitable,and that competition may not always be an incentive to innovate.
