Compliance & Regulation
Managing partner “did not instigate” drunken kiss with paralegal
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has rejected an allegation that a managing partner instigated a non-consensual drunken kiss with a much younger paralegal.
Law Society applies to intervene in Mazur appeal
The Law Society is to seek to intervene in the Mazur appeal amid specialist lawyers’ prediction that more costs disputes are on the way following the High Court decision.
Solicitor without PC took money for work he never did
A solicitor who deceived a convicted client into believing he had a practising certificate, took money to pursue an appeal and then did not do the work has been struck off.
SRA fails with two high-profile SLAPPs prosecutions
Two high-profile Solicitors Regulation Authority prosecutions for alleged misconduct by libel lawyers failed last week.
SRA disqualifies “dishonest” non-solicitor directors of SSB Group
Two non-solicitor directors of SSB Group have been disqualified from working in the profession after the Solicitors Regulation Authority found they had been dishonest.
MP: Moving lawyers’ AML oversight to FCA “will help fraud fight”
Moving the supervision of lawyers’ anti-money laundering activities to the Financial Conduct Authority will strengthen the fight against fraud, a campaigning MP has told Legal Futures.
SRA urges target firms in acquisitions not to ignore due diligence
An SRA review of law firm acquisitions has highlighted failures and behaviours on the part of some target firms as a cause for concern.
SRA targets accountant’s reports and sole owners in shake-up
All law firm accountant’s reports will have to be submitted to the SRA in future, and sole owners will not generally be allowed to hold compliance roles too, under proposals published today.
SRA shuts down four law firms in three days
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has shut down four law firms so far this week – two of them connected to the same man.
Don’t forget human support in the rush to digital, lawyers told
Both the structure and delivery of legal services – such as a lack of guidance and reactive communication – can cause difficulties for consumers, new research has found.
LSB: “Significant concerns” over viability of Legal Ombudsman
The Legal Services Board has expressed “significant concerns about the viability” of the Legal Ombudsman scheme as it struggles to get its caseload under control.
Law firms need to keep “meaningful offline routes” to services
Digitally excluded consumers need law firms to maintain “meaningful offline routes” to services because “digital transformation is not inherently progressive”, says a report for four legal regulators.
Government to ratchet up pressure on “corrupt” lawyers
The government yesterday pledged further action to target professional enablers of fraud, like corrupt lawyers, and called for “innovative” approaches to strengthening ethics.
Tribunal lifts restrictions on solicitor who failed to pay PII premiums
The SDT has lifted all restrictions on the future practice of a solicitor who was indefinitely suspended for failing to pay indemnity insurance premiums.
Reports of bullying and harassment by barristers almost double
The number of reports to the Bar Standards Board of bullying and harassment has almost doubled in the last year, the regulator has revealed.
Blog
When AI becomes a line on the client’s bill
On 23 June, Legora changed how it charges. The platform announced that its most capable product was moving away from a flat per-seat licence fee to consumption-based pricing
Which legal AI will still matter in 12 months?
Four years ago, when senior partners asked me which legal AI they should buy, I would have walked them through a vendor comparison. Now I tell them the question is wrong.
Supreme Court redraws line between member and employee in LLPs
For anyone advising professional services firms on LLP structuring, and of course for those in LLPs themselves, last week’s Supreme Court ruling is an essential read.
