Compliance & Regulation
Government sets out conditions for ‘excepted’ NDAs
The government has proposed detailed conditions which would allow employers and workers to sign NDAs relating to harassment or discrimination in strictly limited situations.
SRA “wants conversation about who handles complaints about solicitors”
The SRA “would love to have a conversation” about whether the responsibility for handling complaints should continue to be split with the Legal Ombudsman, MPs have heard.
Solicitor who falsely recorded time to meet targets struck off
A solicitor who falsely recorded 100 hours of time to help meet her billing targets has been struck off, despite recognition of the mental health issues she was facing at the time.
Law Society trains focus on SRA for Mazur supervision guidance
The Law Society has put the focus on the SRA to give the profession guidance on what amounts to supervision following the Mazur ruling.
Keep out of employment issues, solicitors tell SRA
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been told to leave employment issues such as bullying, harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct to law firms and the courts.
Law firm fails in appeal against £68k fine for AML failures
A law firm run by an ex-Law Society president has failed in an appeal against a £68,000 fine imposed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for anti-money laundering failures.
Consumers may have to wait a year for LeO decision
The decision to deny the Legal Ombudsman the budget it needs could see consumers waiting more than a year for the outcome of their complaint by 2028.
Mazur: Law Society still mulling appeal as SRA reviews investigations
The Law Society has yet to decide whether to appeal last week’s Mazur ruling, while the SRA is reviewing investigations that followed the High Court ruling.
Eight out of 10 candidates say SQE is not fit for purpose
Eight out of 10 current and former SQE candidates do not consider the exam is fit for purpose or good value for money, a survey by the National Junior Lawyers Division has found.
Bar tribunals: Earlier naming and all rulings published
Rulings by Bar disciplinary tribunals which clear barristers of misconduct are to be published in all cases, not only where requested, the Bar Standards Board has decided.
Judge: Unqualified agency advocates “risk undermining legal system”
The use of unqualified advocates by agencies has “the potential to undermine the integrity of the legal system”, a judge has ruled.
“Deplorable” vaginal mesh solicitor put money before clients
A solicitor who acted for hundreds of women in vaginal mesh claims has been struck off for “deplorable” conduct which involved “a profound failure to protect his clients’ interests”.
BSB rejects Good Law Project complaint over gender critical barrister
The Bar Standards Board has rejected a complaint made against a barrister by the Good Law Project on behalf of a trans woman over multiple social media posts.
Return to normality – Court of Appeal overturns Mazur ruling
The Court of Appeal has overturned the decision in Mazur, holding that an unauthorised person can conduct litigation so long as they are under the supervision of an authorised lawyer.
Mazur reaction: A victory for all, says CILEX
The Court of Appeal ruling in Mazur is “a victory for CILEX members” but also for access to justice, consumers and the profession, the organisation has declared.
Blog
Is your Google Ads budget funding your competitors’ AI visibility?
If your cost-per-click has crept up again this year, you’ve probably assumed the market simply got more expensive. That’s the wrong way to read what’s happening.
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.
