Compliance & Regulation
Ban for trainee lawyer who helped fugitive brother flee UK
A trainee property lawyer who helped her brother flee the country so he could avoid prosecution for murder has been disqualified from working for law firms.
Head of family law cleared of serious wrongdoing over decree nisi
A senior family lawyer has been cleared of dishonesty and lack of integrity over an application for a decree nisi that was not made and remained outstanding for a year.
Mazur: LSB to review past guidance issued on litigation rights
The LSB is to review how all the regulators and representative bodies have “ensured that information on conducting litigation was accurate and reliable”, in the wake of the Mazur ruling.
Solicitor who did not disclose “catastrophic” evidence struck off
A personal injury solicitor who withheld a piece of evidence he knew would be “catastrophic” to his client’s case has been struck off.
“No incentive” for private equity investors to dilute firms’ ethics
There is no reason why a law firm backed by private equity would be “less professionally ethical” than one owned by its lawyer-partners, a regulatory specialist has argued.
Strike-off for solicitor who misled client, court and law firm
A solicitor who misled her divorce client, the Family Court and the owner of her law firm – leading to the client being issued with a penal notice – has been struck off.
BSB goes ahead with new complaints rules for barristers
The Bar Standards Board has decided to go ahead with rule changes requiring barristers to tell it every year, via their chambers, about any complaints they receive.
Mazur: Non-authorised person “should not be client’s main contact”
Our round-up of developments on the Mazur ruling includes a warning that law firms should consider prohibiting non-authorised staff from being clients’ main point of contact.
Litigation partner’s errors “did not amount to misconduct”
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has dismissed all allegations against a commercial litigation partner whose “shortcomings did not amount to misconduct”.
FCA to steer motor finance consumers away from legal action
The Financial Conduct Authority is to discourage consumers from pursuing motor finance claims in court, even if they might recover more damages.
Police filmed solicitor acting for both complainant and defendant
A criminal defence lawyer who was filmed by police advising the complainant in a domestic abuse case while acting for the person accused of headbutting her has been suspended.
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.
Blog
Strong AML controls are meaningless with incomplete data
One expectation as the FCA takes control of anti-money laundering oversight is a move towards more supervision rather than simply writing new rules.
Navigating the legal AI productivity-profitability paradox
Firms are achieving efficiencies through AI, especially in the practice of law. Yet many are struggling to see that reflected in their financial outcomes
Regulation, growth and access to justice: why legal services need a reset
Well-intentioned consumer protections embedded in the regulation of legal services increasingly act as barriers to innovation, competition and access to justice.
