Compliance & Regulation
Firms, not solicitors, to feel impact of 11% rise in cost of practising
The cost of practising as a solicitor is set to increase by 11%, or £16.6m, in the next year, although the financial impact will be felt by firms rather than individuals.
Disciplinary tribunal fines law firm £58,000 for AML breaches
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has fined an East London law firm £58,000 for anti-money laundering rule breaches over a six-year period.
Big rise in complaints about SRA’s handling of intervention files
The number of clients complaining to the Solicitors Regulation Authority about its failure to retrieve their documents after it shut down a firm has shot up by over 50%.
Law firm named by LeO hits out at “egregious” decision
One of the law firms named by the Legal Ombudsman in the first three full findings it has published has described the decision to do so as “egregious”.
Chambers distances itself from barrister over aggressive tweets
Garden Court Chambers has distanced itself from comments made by a pro-Palestinian member, which included him telling one X user to “Get my name out of your mouth, fascist-Zionist scum”.
More consumers than ever choosing unbundled services
The proportion of consumers choosing unbundled legal services has hit its highest ever rate at just over a fifth, according to research for the Legal Services Consumer Panel.
LeO names firms “in public interest” as it publishes first full decisions
The Legal Ombudsman has published three of its final decisions in full for the first time, including the names of the firms involved, arguing that the move increases transparency.
Infected blood inquiry urges SRA to crack down on ‘no win, no fee’ offers
The head of the infected blood inquiry yesterday called on the SRA to tell solicitors that they should not be charging clients making a claim for compensation.
Paralegal rebuked for £1.85m payment error
A senior paralegal has been rebuked for wrongly requesting the release of at least £1.85m to a property developer which later went bust, leaving his law firm to repay buyers.
High-profile non-lawyer firm owner disqualified by SRA
The man who founded now-defunct Stobart Barristers and then bought two well-known criminal law firms has been disqualified from running a law firm in future.
Engine of change – Philip’s new role as he heads to SRA exit
The outgoing chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority has lined up his first non-executive role by joining the board of the Institute of the Motor Industry.
NDAs to cover up harassment and discrimination “will be void”
The government is to ban non-disclosure agreements covering harassment and discrimination unless the victim themselves asks for one.
Young barrister reprimanded for throwing bottle in bar
A barrister has been reprimanded following her conviction for throwing a bottle at another woman in a Nottingham cocktail bar.
Solicitor tried to stop counterpart reporting breach of undertaking
A solicitor who breached an undertaking and then tried to stop his opposite number reporting him to the Solicitors Regulation Authority has been struck off.
Solicitor acting for Hamas ditches “traditional law firm model”
Riverway Law, the law firm representing terror group Hamas, has closed down in its current form and is set to reappear as the legal arm of a movement called Riverway to the Sea.
Blog
Small steps, big impact: how SME law firms are making legal tech work
For SME law firms, the priority is turning the potential of tech into measurable impact: success is driven not just by the technology, but by how firms approach planning and implementation.
Why housing disrepair claims against councils have leapt by nearly 400%
Housing disrepair claims against councils have surged dramatically in recent years, with some areas reporting increases approaching a staggering 400%.
Client accounts: Opportunity, obligation and the risks in between
The profitability gap between well-run firms and the rest is not primarily a function of size, location or practice area – it is a function of financial management.
