Compliance & Regulation
Local law societies condemn SRA plans for client money
The SRA’s plans to reform consumer protection arrangements are disproportionate, risk undermining public confidence and will not work, the five largest local law societies have warned.
Fined solicitor had “implacable belief” in his AML knowledge
An experienced solicitor who had an “implacable belief that he was right” and so did not think he needed to check anti-money laundering rules has been fined £45,000 for breaching them.
Suspended barrister warns over “innocent conversations about hobbies”
The barrister suspended for two years after showing his photography website to a woman and offering to take unclothed photos of her has said it was “an innocent discussion”.
Proudman: BSB actions have had a “chilling effect” on me
In the second part of our interview with barrister Dr Charlotte Proudman, she discusses her run-ins with the Bar Standards Board, culminating in a disciplinary hearing.
Charlotte Proudman: To create change, you have to put yourself out there
Legal Futures interviews Dr Charlotte Proudman, the outspoken barrister and campaigner who was recently cleared by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.
‘Axiom Ince Five’ set to face trial in February 2027
The five men charged by the Serious Fraud Office with various offences following the collapse of Axiom Ince will stand trial in February 2027.
Two-year suspension for barrister’s inappropriate comments at court
An experienced barrister has been suspended for two years over inappropriate comments and behaviour of a sexual nature while at court.
Legal Services Board has “duty to act” on profession’s diversity
The Legal Services Board not only has “the right to act” to improve diversity in the legal profession, but is under “a duty to act”, its new chief executive has said.
Only 11% of law firms “likely to pay” new FOS complaint fee
Only one in 10 law firms handling financial services mis-selling matters will have to pay the new £250 case fee to the Financial Ombudsman Service, it has estimated.
BSB chief: Barristers must be “circumspect” in exercising free speech
Barristers must be “circumspect” in exercising their free speech when speaking about controversial matters, the director general of the Bar Standards Board has said.
Partner struck off for misleading clients about state of claim
A partner who misled his clients for two years about the status of their claim – leading them to believe it had been issued when it had not been – has been struck off.
LeO halves amount of time that staff need to be in office
The Legal Ombudsman is bucking the wider trend of requiring staff to spend more time in the office and is instead halving it to the equivalent of one day a week.
Law Society and Bar Council attack LSB’s “huge” budget hike
The Law Society and the Bar Council have strongly attacked plans by the Legal Services Board to increase its budget by 14% to over £6m for the year ahead.
Solicitor “cannot complain” to JCIO about judge’s criticism
The High Court has rejected a solicitor and his client’s bid to challenge the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office’s refusal to entertain their complaints about three Court of Appeal judges.
SRA issues sanctions for breaches of undertakings
The SRA yesterday handed out a fine and a rebuke for breaching undertakings, one relating to property transactions and the other to a divorce matter.
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.
