Compliance & Regulation
Gender-critical barrister praises BSB approach to ‘meritless’ complaints
A leading ‘gender critical’ barrister has praised the Bar Standards Board for the way it handles “meritless” complaints after rejecting two made against her.
Consultant-led law firms “pose greater money laundering risk”
The decentralised nature of consultant-led law firms carries extra money laundering risks that mean compliance officers may need to be “more interventionist”, the SRA has cautioned.
SRA to consult on strengthening continuing competence regime
The SRA is to consult on strengthening continuing competence requirements as it was not clear whether solicitors are reflecting properly on their practices.
“Too soon” for struck-off solicitor to apply for return to roll
A struck-off solicitor who has not paid the Solicitors Regulation Authority nearly £65,000 in outstanding costs from his disciplinary hearing cannot return to the roll.
Panel backs making law firms tell clients how to complain at end of cases
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has come out strongly in favour of law firms telling clients how to complain at the end of a matter as well as the beginning.
Solicitor settled employment claim without asking client
A solicitor with mental health issues who settled an employment tribunal claim without consulting her client has been struck off.
War of words between trainee and ex-Attorney General over SQE
Former Attorney General Suella Braverman KC has entered into a war of words with a trainee solicitor over a petition calling for reform of the SQE.
Strike-off for solicitor who hid partnership money during divorce
A partner who deliberately failed to disclose during his divorce that he held over £23,000 in his capital account has been struck off.
SRA awards £360k in grants to help disadvantaged students qualify
Eleven organisations are to receive grants totalling £360,000 to pay the costs of up to 190 aspiring solicitors from disadvantages backgrounds sitting the SQE.
Zahawi solicitor appeals to High Court over misconduct finding
The solicitor for former Conservative Chancellor Nadeem Zahawi has appealed against the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal ruling which found him guilty of misconduct.
Solicitor who ignored AML rules for six years struck off
A sole practitioner has been struck off for ignoring the anti-money laundering rules for six years and also showing a “complete disregard” for residual client balances.
City solicitor struck off for child sex convictions
A former City solicitor has been struck off after being convicted at Southwark Crown Court on two separate occasions and jailed for child sex offences.
Number of Bar training course students continues to rise
The number of students enrolling on Bar training courses has increased for the fourth year in a row, to 2,445, with pass rates varying a great deal depending on the course provider.
Misconduct by solicitor leading to civil restraint order “was not noble”
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has rejected an argument from a solicitor made subject to a general civil restraint order that his “underlying motivation” was “noble”.
Barrister loses appeal against disbarment for sexual harassment
A barrister disbarred for sexual harassing a woman during a mini pupillage and, separately, two pupils at social events, has lost his appeal against the sanction.
Blog
It’s time for law firms to ask tougher questions
For years, many law firms have treated ID verification as a box-ticking exercise. Run a liveness check, match a face to a document and move on. But that is no longer good enough.
Business fatigue to AI will risk job security
Whilst we know professional learning has always been part of career paths, to hire, retain and keep talent, AI needs to be embedded as a core part of this training.
On good authority? GenAI and the reputational risks to law firms
As GenAI’s influence grows, so do the risks which are already playing out in courtrooms across England and Wales, where some early adopters are setting precedents they would rather not.
