Compliance & Regulation
SRA shuts down eight-office Home Counties law firm
An eight-office Home Counties law firm – operating under seven different names – was closed down yesterday by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Regulators told to be tougher with AML disciplinary action
Some legal and accountancy regulators are not undertaking “sufficiently dissuasive disciplinary measures” over non-compliance with AML rules, their oversight body has warned.
Dual-qualified barrister who misled High Court is disbarred
A Bar disciplinary tribunal has ordered that a dual-qualified barrister, who misled the High Court as a solicitor, should be disbarred.
Exclusive: Ex-SSB clients settle claims against firm’s insurer
Around 130 former clients of SSB Law have settled their negligence claims against the collapsed law firm’s insurer, their solicitor has revealed.
Fine for solicitor who failed to act on client’s vulnerabilities
An experienced solicitor who failed to take action after medical reports showed his client had not been fit to plead guilty to 19 criminal charges has been fined £3,800.
Don’t make us responsible for submitting reports, accountants tell SRA
Responsibility for submitting law firms’ accountant’s reports should not be switched to the accountants, a leading representative body has told the SRA.
Court of Appeal refuses bid by jailed barrister to call new evidence
A barrister has failed in a bid to overturn his conviction for defrauding the Legal Aid Agency by falsely claiming defence legal costs.
Suspension for solicitor who ran firm without authorisation
A solicitor who practised as a sole practitioner for over three years without authorisation after her partner left has been suspended for nine months.
Ethical working cultures “vital” for law firms, indemnity insurer says
An “ethical and supportive working culture” has become “not just beneficial, but vital” to the future of law firms, a leading professional indemnity insurer has said.
Solicitor struck off for misleading judge about location
A solicitor who “wasted valuable court time” by telling a recorder that he was in London when he was actually in Munich has been struck off.
Client account interest scheme “could create meaningful change”
An Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts scheme “could create meaningful change” by delivering a justice system that works for more people.
Training of lawyers “not good enough”, MPs told
The training of lawyers in England and Wales, both at law schools and through CPD, “is not good enough” and could be improved by regulation, a leading legal academic has told MPs.
Non-AI technology-only law firm authorised by SRA
A technology-only law firm built around a “fully deterministic legal model” has been authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the first of its kind.
Solicitor faces probe after putting client documents into ChatGPT
The Upper Tribunal has warned lawyers against putting client documents into ChatGPT and other open-source AI tools after a solicitor admitted doing so.
SRA puts conditions on practice of controversial solicitor Milne
Controversial solicitor Andrew Milne has been put under a supervision condition by the Solicitors Regulation Authority following a conviction for stalking.
Blog
When the person who needs help is the partner
A law firm can have excellent support on paper and still have a serious gap. The gap is the person who cannot imagine using it.
SRA supervision and AI: what firms will be asked to prove
AI intensifies scrutiny of whether firms can demonstrate that they were in control of the systems through which legal services were delivered.
How ELD NextGen will improve employers’ liability tracing
The Employers’ Liability Tracing Office is continuing work towards the launch of ELD NextGen, the next generation of the employers’ liability database, in early 2027.
Reports
Associates
