Compliance & Regulation
Independent barristers’ review “contributed to Post Office cover-up”
An independent review by a leading public law silk into possible miscarriages of justice caused by the Post Office computer system “was used to, and in some ways contributed to, a cover-up”.
Solicitor who certified LPAs “as a favour” is fined £6,000
A criminal defence solicitor who said he certified two lasting powers of attorney “as a favour” for an elderly client has been fined £6,000 for failing to make the necessary checks.
Solicitor was “manifestly incompetent” in advice to elderly client
A solicitor has admitted manifest incompetence in failing to advise a 92-year-old client to refuse a £60,000 engagement ring and £35,000 car in part-payment of the property he was selling.
LSB to consider “alternative configurations” of reserved legal activities
The Legal Services Board is to undertake a “first-principles analysis” of the list of reserved legal activities to consider “potential alternative configurations”.
LSB plans to make it easier for clients to complain to their lawyers
Stronger rules on how clients are informed about their right to complain, and ensuring verbal expressions of dissatisfaction are treated as complaints, are set to be introduced next year.
SRA forced to wait for end of Post Office inquiry to take action
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is going to have to wait until the end of the Post Office inquiry before it can take formal disciplinary action against any lawyers involved in the scandal.
Consumers keen to read reviews of barristers, says Trustpilot
There are only 15 barristers on Trustpilot but their pages are viewed 4,000 times a day by consumers, showing the opportunity for the Bar, a webinar heard last week.
LSB to urge regulatory action in bid to strengthen professional ethics
A greater focus on professional ethics among law students and qualified lawyers, with stronger supervision by regulators, is needed to uphold the rule of law, the Legal Services Board has said.
Tribunal clears conveyancer over allegations of AML dishonesty
A solicitor accused of not having a firm-wide anti-money laundering risk assessment in place and lying about it to the SRA, has been cleared by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
SRA “risks acting arbitrarily” in sexual misconduct crackdown
The SRA risks acting “unfairly and arbitrarily” if it refers almost all cases relating to sexual misconduct to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, a leading regulatory lawyer has warned.
Consumer panel calls for standardised information to help consumers
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has called on regulators to consider how information providers give to consumers can be standardised, with complaints and conveyancing prices particular concerns.
CLC “making greater use of range of enforcement powers”
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers is making greater use of the range of its enforcement powers, rather than going straight to full disciplinary action, its chief executive has said.
Reprimand for barrister convicted of VAT offence
A barrister who “lost control of his finances” during the breakdown of his marriage and was convicted of a VAT offence has been reprimanded by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.
Solicitor used £230,000 of client money to prop up firm
A solicitor who shuffled around client account money to prop up his firm – leaving a hole of at least £230,000 and charities out of money bequeathed to them – has been struck off.
SRA “should police anti-money laundering across UK legal sector”
An SRA with “beefed up” powers should be the single body policing money laundering across the UK legal sector, which currently enjoys “near impunity” from breaching the rules.
Blog
Our vision for 2026: A shared approach to AML
We want to see law firms start taking AML compliance as seriously as it deserves. This means treating it not as a tick-box exercise or a procedural necessity, but as a serious part of company culture.
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.
