Compliance & Regulation
BSB: No need for “anxiety” over barrister training standards
The evidence “does not support anxiety about standards” for qualifying as a barrister, despite rising numbers seeking to do so, the Bar Standards Board has said.
Lawyers and regulators oppose 10% rise in LeO’s budget
The profession has come out strongly against Legal Ombudsman plans for a 10% budget hike, arguing that throwing more money at it has not worked to date.
Director and law firm fined £50,000 for multiple compliance failures
The director of a law firm and the firm itself have each been fined £25,000 for a series of compliance failures, including widespread accounts rule breaches and anti-money laundering shortcomings.
CMC regulator warns about poor service standards
The regulator of CMCs has highlighted poor service standards, inappropriate sourcing of customers and misleading advertising as among its key areas of concern.
SRA under fire for not taking action on “textbook” SLAPP
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has come under fire for closing a complaint about a law firm that represented a Russian warlord without any further action.
Anglo-Scottish firm under close SRA scrutiny over McClure files
The collapse of an Anglo-Scottish law firm in 2021 continues to have significant reverberations, with the firm that took on its business now under close scrutiny from the SRA.
Are AML breaches misconduct? High Court hears SRA appeal
A significant appeal that should decide whether a breach of the Money Laundering Regulations is also a breach of the SRA code of conduct starts in the High Court today.
Veteran barrister disbarred for “recklessly misleading” tribunal
A veteran barrister who attempted to recklessly mislead the court and failed to provide his direct access client with a competent service has been disbarred.
SRA can keep disciplinary decisions online for longer
The Legal Services Board has approved plans by the SRA to change its publication policy and keep details of misconduct on its website for longer.
Solicitors “letting down” women subjected to economic abuse
Lawyers giving independent legal advice in cases of potential economic abuse of women are helping the abusers more than their clients, new research has suggested.
Ban for trainee who misled employer over reason for day off
A trainee solicitor who misled her employer over why she wanted a day off work, seemingly to hide the fact that she was in court over planning breaches, has been banned from the profession.
Solicitor cleared of AML offences he had admitted to
The SDT has taken the unusual step of rejecting a solicitor’s admissions that he should have done more due diligence on £24m paid into his firm’s client account.
Barrister fined for call declaration omissions “had told Lincoln’s Inn”
The lawyer heavily fined for failing to declare adverse findings about himself when applying to be called to the Bar said he had already done so when joining Lincoln’s Inn.
KC condemns SRA for “unprincipled approach” to fines
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has demonstrated a “shambolic and unprincipled approach” to the use of its fining powers, a leading regulatory KC has argued.
Drink-drive solicitor who refused breath test did not lack integrity
A solicitor arrested for failing to provide a sample of his breath after being pulled over for drink-driving did not act with a lack of integrity, the SDT has ruled.
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.
