Compliance & Regulation
Barrister apprenticeships to go live next year
Barrister apprenticeships are set to become a reality after their approval by the Bar Standards Board and Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
Solicitor reprimanded for insurance error but SRA sees costs halved
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has again seen its costs slashed after the contested part of its prosecution of a solicitor failed.
LeO: Lawyers show “no empathy” towards complaining clients
Lawyers take a defensive or confrontational approach to complaints “as standard, showing no empathy or understanding of clients’ experience”, the Legal Ombudsman has said.
LSB seeks 14% budget hike as it targets stronger regulator oversight
The Legal Services Board has proposed a 14% hike in its budget as it looks to strengthen direct oversight of the frontline regulators, which may include active monitoring of the SRA.
PI lawyer brought “fundamentally dishonest” claims – and lied on CV
A personal injury fee-earner lied about injuries she suffered in three car accidents, as well as about her academics and professional status, a circuit judge has ruled.
Veteran solicitor struck off for forging client’s signature
A veteran solicitor who falsified a client’s signature on a notice of severance as part of divorce proceedings after losing the original has been struck off.
Tribunal clears drink-drive solicitor of misleading firm
The SRA was “not justified” in alleging that a solicitor convicted of drink-driving concealed the extent of her wrongdoing to her firm, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has ruled.
Tribunal revokes SRA rebuke of solicitor over client complaint
An SRA adjudicator was wrong to rebuke a solicitor for supposedly trying to prevent a client from reporting him to the regulator and Legal Ombudsman, the SDT has held.
High public confidence in barristers falters among ethnic minorities
Public confidence in barristers is high, but lower among those from minority backgrounds, especially when it comes to perceptions of whether they treat everyone fairly.
SRA “unlikely to take action” on solicitors who refuse fossil fuel work
It is “unlikely” that the SRA would take regulatory action against a solicitor who refuses to work on fossil fuel matters for reasons of conscience, counsel’s opinion has declared.
“Manifestly incompetent” solicitor struck off over billing and accounts
A “manifestly incompetent” law firm owner who made false claims to the Legal Aid Agency and kept her firm’s accounts in a state of chaos has been struck off.
High Court overturns SRA’s decision to intervene in law firm
The High Court has taken the almost unprecedented step of withdrawing a notice of intervention into a law firm issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
SRA heads must roll over Axiom Ince, says ex-board member
A former member of the board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority has called for its chair and/or chief executive to resign in the wake of the Axiom Ince report.
Ethical clashes can cause young lawyers health problems
Having a professional identity as a young lawyer that does not align with the values of your law firm could turn “wellbeing issues into serious health problems”, a leading legal academic has warned.
Accountants more than double size of ABS by buying law firm
A private equity-backed accountancy business has made good on its promise to grow its law firm through acquisition by buying a London practice more than twice its size.
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.
