Compliance & Regulation
Consumer panel calls for single disciplinary process for lawyers
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has called for a single disciplinary process and compensation scheme as part of a major modernisation of legal regulation.
Implementing ILCA scheme as proposed “may be unlawful”
The government’s plans for an Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts scheme are so poorly thought-through that implementing it might not be lawful, City solicitors have warned.
SRA faces £700k costs battle with Carter-Ruck partner
The Solicitors Regulation Authority faces having to pay up to £700,000 in costs after its prosecution of a partner at top media firm Carter-Ruck was summarily dismissed.
Using Legal Choices “improves understanding”
The website run by all the legal regulators to help consumers navigate the justice system improves understanding of legal issues, research has found.
“Repurpose unused apprenticeship levies” to support access to justice
Repurposing large law firms’ unused apprenticeship levies was this week put forward as a more practical option than a levy of wealthy law firms to support access to justice initiatives.
SRA pays out £9.3m to PM Law clients in month after collapse
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has already paid out £9.3m to clients of the collapsed PM Law Group, it revealed today.
Legal Services Board “may need more money and staff” to do its job
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has questioned whether the Legal Services Board is “sufficiently resourced and structured” to oversee regulation of the sector.
Legal Services Board formally issues SRA with censure over SSB
The Legal Services Board has today finally issued the formal public censure of the SRA for its failure to protect consumers affected by the collapse of SSB Group.
Mazur: Court refuses CILEX Fellow exemption to conduct litigation
A circuit judge has refused to grant a highly experienced chartered legal executive an exemption that would allow her to conduct a family law case.
SRA shuts down eight-office Home Counties law firm
An eight-office Home Counties law firm – operating under seven different names – was closed down yesterday by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Regulators told to be tougher with AML disciplinary action
Some legal and accountancy regulators are not undertaking “sufficiently dissuasive disciplinary measures” over non-compliance with AML rules, their oversight body has warned.
Dual-qualified barrister who misled High Court is disbarred
A Bar disciplinary tribunal has ordered that a dual-qualified barrister, who misled the High Court as a solicitor, should be disbarred.
Exclusive: Ex-SSB clients settle claims against firm’s insurer
Around 130 former clients of SSB Law have settled their negligence claims against the collapsed law firm’s insurer, their solicitor has revealed.
Fine for solicitor who failed to act on client’s vulnerabilities
An experienced solicitor who failed to take action after medical reports showed his client had not been fit to plead guilty to 19 criminal charges has been fined £3,800.
Don’t make us responsible for submitting reports, accountants tell SRA
Responsibility for submitting law firms’ accountant’s reports should not be switched to the accountants, a leading representative body has told the SRA.
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.
