Compliance & Regulation
Law Society warns firms of steep rise in insurance premiums
Law firms are facing a 30% increase in their professional indemnity insurance this year, and even more for those with bad claims histories, the Law Society has warned.
Ex-SDT chief urges ‘fitness to practise’ regime to help solicitors with mental health problems
The SRA needs to introduce a ‘fitness to practise’ regime as a better way to deal with young solicitors with mental health problems, the former chief executive of the SDT has told Legal Futures.
Solicitor cleared of beating bouncer with stiletto
A 5’2” commercial property solicitor has been cleared of assault by beating after she hit a nightclub bouncer over the head with her stiletto.
Accountants offered new route to setting up ABSs
Accountants and firms regulated by the ACCA will have a pathway to handling all the reserved activities under the plan to transfer supervision of their legal work to CILEx Regulation.
SFO charges three men over Axiom fund collapse
Two former solicitors and a former independent financial adviser have been charged with multiple offences in connection with the collapse of the Axiom Legal Financing Fund.
Struck-off solicitor’s comparison with George Floyd “a disgrace”
A struck-off solicitor’s comparison of his treatment at the hands of the Solicitors Regulation Authority with that of George Floyd by US police has been branded a “disgrace” by a tribunal.
Partner suspended over multiple money laundering failures
A partner in a law firm which acted mainly for Russian and Ukrainian clients has been suspended for nine months after admitting multiple breaches of the anti-money laundering rules.
Solicitor struck off after 40-year career – for the sake of £100
An experienced conveyancer has been struck off for falsifying the completion date of a transaction in a report to tax authorities in order to avoid a late registration penalty of £100.
Solicitor wrote cheque to himself from client account
A solicitor who was cautioned by the police for fraud after writing a cheque for £2,000 from client account to himself has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Solicitors caught in dubious schemes “fail in due diligence”
Solicitors generally fail to carry out due diligence exercises on the people behind what turn out to be dubious investment schemes, a review by the Solicitors Regulation Authority has found.
Solicitor under-declared sale prices to pocket stamp duty
A solicitor who falsified returns to HM Revenue & Customs so as to underpay stamp duty land tax and pocket the difference in a bid to keep his firm afloat has been struck off.
City solicitor suspended after second police cocaine caution
A City solicitor who received a second police caution for possessing cocaine – but failed to report it out of fear of losing his job and marriage – has been banned from practice for a year.
LSB demands greater transparency on practising fees
Legal regulators will have to explain more clearly how they spend their practising certificate fees under revised rules proposed by the Legal Services Board.
67% of solicitors tell Law Society PC fee is not value for money
Two-thirds of solicitors do not consider the practising certificate fee value for money, with many expressing concern at the level being charged given the impact of Covid-19.
SRA shuts down 16-office law firm consolidator
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has today shut down a 16-office law firm consolidator with 180 staff across the country. It is highly unusual for the regulator to intervene in such a large practice.
Blog
Cross-generation collaboration: the key to in-house legal tech adoption
In-house legal function leaders will increasingly have to evolve their thinking on how to manage multigenerational teams containing differing levels of technological expertise.
AI and law firm risk – the view of professional indemnity insurers
In considering law firm applications for cover, many insurers will expect to see evidence of how firms are adapting to AI and preparing for the future.
Automation in personal injury claims: The evolving legal risks
As automation tools become more sophisticated, they are increasingly used for more complex tasks, such as interpreting evidence and informing case strategy, particular in the PI sector.
