Compliance & Regulation
“Disruptive” solicitor ordered to pay SRA costs of £20,000
A solicitor has been ordered to pay the SRA £20,000 in costs for his “unreasonable and indeed vexatious and disruptive conduct” of litigation against it.
Two firms rebuked for residual balances as charity launches campaign
Two law firms that between them retained £425,000 of client money for many years have been rebuked as charity Support Through Court called on solicitors to donate small residual balances.
LSB chair steps down less than halfway through term
The chair of the Legal Services Board, Alan Kershaw, has stood down from the role less than halfway through his term, citing personal considerations.
SRA moves closer to SSB Law prosecutions
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has completed its investigation into the collapse of SSB Law and issued disciplinary notices to “a number of individuals”.
Paul Philip to retire as SRA chief executive
Paul Philip is to retire from the Solicitors Regulation Authority towards the end of 2025 after nearly 12 years as chief executive, it announced this morning.
“Time to act” on scrapping client accounts, consumer panel says
Now is the time for the SRA to take “decisive steps” towards scrapping solicitors’ client accounts, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has said.
Reynolds: Errors over calling myself a solicitor “not a huge deal”
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has apologised for referring to himself as a solicitor but said it was not “a huge deal”, as Reform UK pledged to bring a private prosecution against him.
Solicitor took on mis-selling claims “without understanding them”
A solicitor has been fined for letting her firm run mortgage mis-selling claims when she had “no experience or expertise” and made multiple errors as a result.
SRA reopens case of business secretary calling himself a solicitor
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has reopened its investigation into business secretary Jonathan Reynolds describing himself as a solicitor.
Regulatory action against Post Office lawyers “could start this summer”
Both solicitors and barristers involved in the Post Office scandal could start to face disciplinary action by this summer, their regulators have declared.
SRA report calls for major shift in lawyers’ approach to vulnerability
There should be a “fundamental alteration” in the way the legal sector approaches consumer vulnerability, taking an opt-out, rather than opt-in, approach, a study for the SRA has argued.
“Deeply caring” solicitor urged to reflect on professional boundaries
A solicitor has been urged to use a six-month suspension to separate his legal work from the counselling support he provides to sex offender clients, after mixing them led to rule breaches.
SRA must avoid “overzealous” approach to economic crime rules
The new statutory duty on lawyers to promote the “prevention and detection of economic crime” must not trigger an “over-zealous” response by the SRA, the Law Society has warned.
Call for new anti-SLAPP mechanism after “false dawn”
There needs to be a new early disposal mechanism for SLAPPs, academics have said, describing existing anti-SLAPP provisions as “a false dawn that will not address the problem”.
Solicitor struck off for LPA dishonesty after 50 years on roll
A solicitor has been struck off after more than 50 years on the roll after admitting dishonesty over the signing of a lasting power of attorney.
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.
