Compliance & Regulation
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.
SRA, BSB and CILEX Regulation facing “increased oversight”
The Solicitors Regulation Authority, Bar Standards Board and CILEX Regulation all require increased oversight, the Legal Services Board has revealed.
Man ordered to pay £10,000 costs for failed LeO judicial review
A man whose application for permission to bring a judicial review against the Legal Ombudsman was certified as totally without merit has been ordered to pay £10,000 in costs.
Top firm’s COLP “acted reasonably” over concerns about client
The COLP at leading City law firm Kennedys has been cleared of failing to adequately investigate concerns about a property development it was advising on.
SDT introduces automatic disclosure of documents
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has introduced a new policy which aims to cut the number of non-party disclosure applications by the press and public.
Post Office scandal “shows that privilege needs urgent reform”
The Post Office inquiry shows that legal professional privilege presents “significant problems of principle and practice” and needs urgent reform, leading academics have argued.
Pupil suspended for cheating in training exercise
A first-six pupil barrister who accessed a file without permission that helped her with a training exercise, and then pretended she had not, has been suspended for 18 months.
LSB pressures regulators to improve lawyers’ ethical approach
Lawyers’ lack of proper regard for ethics, and their “disproportionate focus” on client interests above all else, means regulators need to take action to improve compliance.
Jailed solicitor’s ex-wife made subject to unexplained wealth order
The Serious Fraud Office has secured its first unexplained wealth order against the ex-wife of Tim Schools, the jailed struck-off solicitor behind the Axiom Fund fraud.
Lawyer “fires” Meta as client over “descent into Neo-Nazi madness”
A US lawyer representing Meta has publicly announced that he has “fired” the company as a client, citing “Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook’s descent into toxic masculinity and Neo-Nazi madness”.
SRA issues warning to firms over sham litigation
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has urged law firms to protect themselves from sham litigation, which can be used to bypass anti-money laundering rules.
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.
