Compliance & Regulation
Solicitor ghosted client and SRA after receiving divorce settlement
A solicitor who failed to pass on to a client the £132,000 due to her from her divorce settlement – money the profession has now had to stump up – has been struck off.
Partner hid conveyancing proceeds in secret bank account
A law firm co-owner who covered up the existence of a bank account he used for the proceeds of a conveyancing transaction – from both his partner and regulator – has been struck off.
Barristers cannot avoid disciplinary action by renouncing status
Barristers cannot escape disciplinary proceedings by renouncing their membership of the profession, a Bar disciplinary tribunal has ruled.
Warning for fee-share consultants in solicitor’s strike-off
A self-employed consultant has been struck off after asking a client to pay a £750 bill to him directly and keep it secret from the law firm he was attached to.
Legal Services Board “needs to focus more on access to justice”
The Legal Services Board should put a priority on access to justice and the needs of people on low incomes rather than professional ethics in its next research programme,.
Solicitor hid 743 cheques worth £233,000 in filing cabinet
A veteran solicitor who signed but then kept 743 cheques worth £233,000 in a filing cabinet in his office, rather than using them to pay disbursements and other liabilities, has been struck off.
New chair a “dominating issue” for Legal Services Board
The arrival of a new chair of the Legal Services Board, taking up the post in April, is the “dominating issue” in its governance, a report by external consultants has found.
SDT orders client who brought case against City solicitors to pay £291k in costs
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has ordered a former client of City firm Simmons & Simmons to pay costs of £291,000 after throwing out his private prosecution of two of its solicitors.
Strike-off for solicitor whose fake PI claim “shattered public trust”
A solicitor who “shattered” public trust in the profession by making a fake personal injury claim through the law firm where he worked has been struck off.
LeO has 22 ongoing enforcement actions against lawyers
The Legal Ombudsman has 22 live enforcement cases against legal services providers that have failed to comply with its decisions, according to the latest figures.
Trio of solicitors sanctioned for conveyancing firm misconduct
A solicitor whose misconduct included using client money to help his firm with cash flow difficulties has been struck off, while two solicitors he hoodwinked have also been sanctioned.
New chair of LSB viewed single regulator for lawyers as “inevitable”
A vastly experienced regulator who once described the prospect of a single regulator for lawyers as “inevitable” has been named as the new chair of the Legal Services Board.
Solicitor struck off for lying over legal aid debt fails in appeal
A solicitor who lied about not having a bank account or any income other than benefits to avoid repaying a debt to the Legal Aid Agency has failed in his appeal against being struck off.
Crypto world opens up opportunities for solicitors, says SRA
Solicitors could improve their productivity by using distributed ledger technology but need to take care if a client wants to pay by cryptocurrency, the SRA has cautioned.
Barrister wins nine-year fight to overturn critical tribunal findings
The employment tribunal has set aside a ruling from 2014 that a former law firm director, now a barrister, was guilty of serious financial impropriety.
Blog
The trade-off mid-sized firm partners think they’re making
Most of the partners I talk to describe the same tension. They want the firm to run efficiently and hit its numbers, but they also want their people to feel supported, developed and fairly treated.
Communication as the core of client care in conveyancing
How a conveyancer approaches client care – particularly in relation to communication – can be the greatest differentiator for the success of a conveyancing firm.
Why brilliant lawyers sometimes fail
A question that often strikes a chord with partners in law firms is this: why is it that individuals who excel in one role sometimes struggle when promoted into another?
Reports
Associates
