Compliance & Regulation
SRA should be able to fine much more than £25,000, LSB tells Raab
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s fining powers should go “considerably beyond” the proposed increase to £25,000, the Legal Services Board has told the Lord Chancellor.
Fine for male trainee who told female colleague: “I roofied your drink”
A trainee solicitor who subjected two female colleagues to “harassing and abusive behaviour” at a work Christmas party – groping them and telling one he had “roofied” her drink – has been fined.
Sibling partners embrace employee ownership to maintain team spirit
The sister and brother partners of an Essex law firm have rejected acquisition offers from larger firms and decided to transfer their shares to an employee ownership trust.
Accountancy body can finally exit legal services regulation
The Legal Services Board has granted permission for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants to formally pull out of probate regulation, having refused it in January.
Unregulated providers growing share of consumer and SME markets
The unregulated sector may account for up to 9% of the total market for individuals’ legal needs and up to 39% for small businesses, Legal Services Board research has indicated.
Call to beef up rules on discrimination and harassment by barristers
The rules against discrimination and harassment by barristers need to be strengthened by removing the requirement that the actions be unlawful, two QCs have argued.
Axiom Law enters regulation for first time with US ABS
Leading alternative legal services provider Axiom Law has moved into regulated services for the first time after being granted an ABS licence in the US state of Arizona.
Judge calls for guidance on rights of unqualified agency advocates
County court judges would benefit from “more authoritative guidance” from the higher courts on whether unqualified solicitor’s agents have rights of audience, a circuit judge has said.
Partner fined after charitable trusts used client account as bank
A charity law specialist who allowed two charitable trusts to use his firm’s client account as a banking facility has been fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Regulators must tackle “out-of-date” lawyers, LSB says
Regulators must take action to ensure that lawyers are not operating with “out-of-date” skills or knowledge, the Legal Services Board has said.
FCA toughens up new claims management company ‘phoenixing’ ban
The Financial Conduct Authority is going ahead with a tougher version of a ban on ‘phoenixing’ by financial services claims management companies, which will come into force next month.
Oversight regulator “very concerned” about ethics of commercial lawyers
The LSB has expressed “very significant concerns” about the professional ethics of in-house and commercial lawyers in the wake of a series of incidents which raised “difficult ethical questions”.
QC suspended over failure to disclose key evidence to defence
A very senior criminal law QC has been suspended for a year over a decision not to disclose surveillance evidence which ultimately led to a conviction being overturned on appeal.
Complaints about SRA rise on back of major law firm closure
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been hit by a wave of complaints relating to its closure of law firm consolidator Kingly Solicitors in the summer of 2020.
Tribunals agree to “deterrent” sanctions for sexual and racial misconduct
The disciplinary tribunals for solicitors and barristers have agreed to impose “deterrent” sanctions for sexual and racial misconduct and other forms of discrimination, bullying or harassment.
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
