Compliance & Regulation
Solicitor faked court documents to mislead client
A solicitor has been struck off for falsifying court documents to make a client think his application to extend his leave to remain in the UK had been made before the leave had expired.
Tribunal upholds LSB decision not to release Leigh Day emails
The First-tier Tribunal has upheld the decision of the Legal Services Board not to release an email exchange with the Solicitors Regulation Authority over the Leigh Day case.
Licensed conveyancers to embrace third-party managed accounts
A revised accounts code that expressly allows firms of licensed conveyancers to use third-party managed accounts has been approved by the Legal Services Board.
Firm boss cleared of telling clients to delete holiday posts
The managing director of a Liverpool law firm has been cleared a tribunal of telling holiday sickness clients to delete social media posts which could undermine their claims.
90% of law firms “breaching transparency rules”
The vast majority of law firms are still failing to comply with the SRA rules on price transparency, a survey has found. The news comes with the regulator planning to step up its checks.
SRA to beef up AML monitoring of law firms
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to beef up its monitoring of firms’ anti-money laundering efforts and begin a review of continuing competence, its draft 2020/21 business plan has revealed.
SRA: Firms can prolong extended PII cover with agreement
Law firms unable to secure professional indemnity insurance because of Covid-19 can prolong the extended indemnity period by agreement and with regulatory approval.
Law firm facilitated £8m “cheque-clearing scheme”
An experienced solicitor who allowed her firm’s client account to be used as a banking facility in a £8m “cheque-clearing scheme” has been struck off.
Court of Appeal upholds law firm’s Chinese wall
A law firm acting for different defendants against the same claimant does not owe that claimant a true fiduciary duty, and so it does not have to prove its Chinese Wall works, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Solicitor cleared over alleged confidentiality breach
A solicitor accused of disclosing to a client confidential information about a former client has been cleared of wrongdoing by a disciplinary tribunal.
Junior lawyers “lose confidence” in SRA after Matthews case
Junior lawyers have lost confidence in the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s approach to dealing with inexperienced solicitors who have mental health issues or worked in toxic environments.
Solicitor struck off for sub-letting council home
A solicitor convicted of illegally subletting his council flat knew “right from wrong” despite ill health and personal problems, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has found.
Partners fined for sitting on almost 1,000 residual balances
Four partners in a Welsh law firm have been fined for sitting on 979 residual balances, totalling over £468,000, for “lengthy periods of time” and where there had been no activity for six months.
SRA paralegal banned after child offences conviction
A paralegal who was working at the Solicitors Regulation Authority has been banned from the profession after being jailed for online sexual offences involving children.
Solicitor who lied about lost documents to appeal strike-off
A former junior solicitor who was struck off after lying about losing documents she was working on while acting for the Solicitors Regulation Authority, is appealing against the decision.
Blog
Our vision for 2026: A shared approach to AML
We want to see law firms start taking AML compliance as seriously as it deserves. This means treating it not as a tick-box exercise or a procedural necessity, but as a serious part of company culture.
Why later-life divorce requires a distinct professional framework
Later-life divorce, often described as ‘silver splitter’ or ‘grey divorce’ cases, is no longer a marginal feature of family law practice. It challenges long-standing assumptions about how divorce work is done.
Listening, learning and leading The Solicitor’s Charity with care
As I prepare to hand over the mantle of chair of The Solicitor’s Charity next month, it doesn’t feel like an end. Instead, it feels like a wonderful journey.
