Compliance & Regulation
Law firm takes down Mazur advice after “unprofessional” responses
A Cardiff law firm criticised for offering to advise people on challenging their solicitors’ fees off the back of the Mazur ruling has removed its promotion of the service.
SQE1 pass-rate falls to lowest-ever level
The pass-rate for the first part of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam has fallen to an all-time low, new figures from the Solicitors Regulation Authority have shown.
Four regulators team up to target motor finance law firms and CMCs
Four regulators have joined forces to tackle misleading advertising and inadequate information provided by some law firms and CMCs working on motor finance claims.
SRA ordered to pay £27k costs over “seriously irregular” decision
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been ordered to pay a woman £27,000 in costs after its decision to ban her from working for law firms was quashed.
Reprimand for barrister who swore at probation staff
A barrister who made inappropriate comments to probation staff in a case where he was instructed by the Probation Service has been reprimanded.
LSB brings regulators together to discuss Mazur ruling
The Legal Services Board is convening a meeting of the frontline regulators next week to discuss the continuing fall-out from the Mazur ruling, Legal Futures can reveal.
SDT rejects appeal from banned legal assistant
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has rejected an appeal from a legal assistant banned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority from working for law firms.
Tribunal rejects solicitor’s appeal over failed exam
The First-tier Tribunal has rejected an appeal by a solicitor who failed the exam to become an immigration law adviser and said he should not have had to take it in the first place.
Mazur: SRA breaks silence and lawyer cites it to justify bill
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has broken its silence on the Mazur case to stress that it has not changed the existing legal position.
Lawyers question whether High Court got Mazur right
Lawyers have been questioning whether the High Court was right in its contentious ruling in Mazur on the conduct of litigation, with the CPR key in the debate.
AML changes will heap “significant compliance burdens” on firms
Government changes to anti-money laundering rules around pooled client accounts could cause “significant and uncertain compliance burdens” for law firms.
Strike-off for solicitor who gave SDT false statement of means
A solicitor who completed a “false and misleading” statement of means for a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal hearing has been struck off.
Hacked law firm and barristers named in second wave of LeO decisions
The Legal Ombudsman has today published 10 of its final decisions in full, only the second release of public interest findings, and names barristers for the first time.
Solicitor fined for letting down clients over off-plan investments
A solicitor who failed to advise clients on the risks of off-plan, buyer-led investment schemes has been fined £17,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Mazur ruling already being cited in court, senior judge reveals
The Senior Costs Judge has revealed that the Mazur case has already been cited before him and suggested that legal professional privilege could be a problem when dealing with the argument.
Blog
Legal director: an alternative to partnership
Firms are increasingly acknowledging the need for alternative senior roles – positions that offer influence and recognition without the obligations of ownership.
It’s time for law firms to ask tougher questions
For years, many law firms have treated ID verification as a box-ticking exercise. Run a liveness check, match a face to a document and move on. But that is no longer good enough.
Business fatigue to AI will risk job security
Whilst we know professional learning has always been part of career paths, to hire, retain and keep talent, AI needs to be embedded as a core part of this training.
