Compliance & Regulation
Lawyers “could be negligent” for failing to use AI
Lawyers and other professionals can be sued for negligence for failing to use AI, according to the latest legal statement from the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce.
New protocol for reporting bullying and harassment by judges
A new protocol to help legal professionals raise concerns about bullying, harassment and discrimination by judges has been launched by the senior judiciary.
City solicitor charged with five counts of insider dealing
The Financial Conduct Authority has charged a City solicitor with five counts of insider dealing while working on a listed company’s acquisition.
Most consumers think they should keep interest from client accounts
A majority of clients believe that they should keep interest earned on client accounts, research for the Legal Services Consumer Panel has found.
Legal Ombudsman: Targets missed but getting better
The Legal Ombudsman continued to miss its key timeliness targets over the last year – but by less than the previous 12 months, its annual report has shown.
Barrister disbarred for multiple motoring offences
A barrister convicted of drink driving before the pandemic and twice convicted of driving while disqualified five years later has been disbarred.
Solicitor who closed firm used client money to shop at Morrisons
A solicitor who repeatedly failed to complete a firm closure notification – whilst holding onto his clients’ files, wills and money after his practice shut down – has been suspended.
SRA: “Major shortcomings” in high-volume consumer claim work
The SRA is developing materials to help law firms handling high-volume consumer claims improve how they onboard clients after major research showed significant shortcomings.
SRA outlines further tightening of complaints-handling rules
New rules requiring law firms to give clients a timeline for resolving complaints they have made, and provide regular updates, have been proposed by the SRA.
KC wins appeal against disbarment over Oxford University lie
The High Court has overturned the disbarment of a barrister who lied in an interview and on a CV 13 years ago that he had attended Oxford University.
Solicitor suspended for offensive comments and bottom pinching
A former partner at a City law firm has been suspended for a year after he made antisemitic, racist and sexualised comments to junior colleagues.
PM Law’s finance chief disqualified over missing client money
The longstanding HOFA at PM Law was involved in moving money from its client accounts and then fabricated the bank balances.
KC to face contempt hearing over closing speech
The KC accused of not following court directions in his closing speech on behalf of a Palestine Action activist is to face contempt proceedings.
Partner transferred £700,000 to client “to avoid negligence claim”
A former partner in a London law firm transferred almost £700,000 of his own money to a client company to avoid a negligence claim.
Don’t kick transparency rules into long grass, SRA told
The Solicitors Regulation Authority must publish a timeline setting out when it will resume work on the transparency rules for law firms.
Blog
Is your Google Ads budget funding your competitors’ AI visibility?
If your cost-per-click has crept up again this year, you’ve probably assumed the market simply got more expensive. That’s the wrong way to read what’s happening.
Containing the spread of unapproved AI
Nearly 60% of fee-earners admit to using unapproved tools (like free versions of ChatGPT). Yet 68% of firm leaders are confident there is zero risk of unapproved AI being used for client work.
When AI adoption goes wrong, costs add up fast
City AM recently reported that London is fighting to claim the title of ‘global capital of legal AI’. However, it’s crucial we remember that adoption alone does not create value.
