Compliance & Regulation
In-house solicitors’ contracts should “incorporate ethical rules”
A template letter for formally incorporating professional ethical obligations into an in-house solicitor’s employment contract was published yesterday by the Law Society.
Vaginal mesh solicitor to face multiple charges at SDT
A solicitor who acted for hundreds of women in vaginal mesh claims before his firm was shut down is to appear before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
SRA to “ratchet up” AML blitz after £575,000 of fines in six months
The SRA has handed out 50 fines totalling £575,000 for AML rule breaches in the last six months and promised to “ratchet up the consequences” for firms that still do not comply.
SRA decides against changing who pays for compensation fund
There was little support for a SRA proposal to reapportion contributions to the compensation fund so that individual solicitors pay more than firms, it has emerged.
Veteran barrister disbarred after “prolonged period of incompetence”
A veteran barrister has been disbarred after a “prolonged period of incompetence” during which he operated from chambers condemned by the BSB as “disorganised and chaotic”.
UWO will investigate how jailed ex-solicitor’s wife bought house
The unexplained wealth order issued against the ex-wife of the struck-off solicitor behind the Axiom Legal Financing Fund fraud will investigate whether her home was bought with tainted funds.
SRA to revise fining guidance on economic crime and drink driving
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is working to activate its power to issue unlimited fines in cases involving economic crime, it has emerged.
Paralegals receive formal recognition with CILEX ‘chartered’ title
CILEX has introduced the first formal recognition of paralegals after receiving Privy Council approval to amend its Royal Charter and introduce the title of CILEX chartered paralegal.
Eversheds staffer created invoices for pro bono case
A former Eversheds Sutherland employee who created invoices for a pro bono matter he brought to the firm has been banned from the profession.
SRA seeks extra £11m as complaints about solicitors soar 20%
A “significant and sustained increase” in the number of reports about solicitor misconduct is fuelling the SRA’s plans for an £11m increase in its budget to £168m.
Legal Services Board ratchets up pressure over BSB performance
The Bar Standards Board is not improving its performance with “sufficient urgency or pace”, the oversight regulator has concluded.
Judge condemns lawyers who produced “fake citations” to court
The High Court has ordered that a barrister and the solicitors who instructed her be referred to their regulators after providing five fake case citations in their pleadings.
Mahmood: SSB and Axiom Ince show need for Legal Services Board
The collapses of SSB Law and Axiom Ince indicate a continuing need for the Legal Services Board despite the government’s focus on cutting red tape, the Lord Chancellor said last week.
Rebuke for solicitor who made baseless perjury threat
A solicitor who emailed an opposing litigant after they instructed lawyers and made baseless threats of perjury against them has been rebuked.
SDT rejects solicitor’s “meritless” appeal over undertaking breach
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has rejected an appeal by a solicitor against a fine of £7,500 imposed on him by an SRA adjudication panel, describing it as having no merit.
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.
