Compliance & Regulation
Fine for solicitor who sent “threatening” Covid letters to schools
A solicitor who sent “threatening” letters to at least 244 secondary schools, telling them they could be at risk of criminal or civil liability for implementing Covid measures, has been fined £2,500.
“Appalling” partner struck off for creating toxic workplace
A law firm’s co-owner has been struck off for “appalling conduct” that involved violence, bullying and harassment aimed at junior colleagues.
Law firm rebuked for not distributing estate after merger
A Surrey law firm that failed to deal with an estate it took on after merging with another practice has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Report: Trust in legal services high but more costs transparency needed
Most people have trust and confidence in legal services, but would like the Solicitors Regulation Authority to do more on their cost, major new research has found.
SRA: Timing of Post Office and Axiom Ince prosecutions uncertain
It is too early to say when prosecutions arising out of the Post Office scandal and Axiom Ince will occur, the chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority said yesterday.
Tribunal budget to soar amid flood of prosecutions by SRA
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal’s budget is set to soar by a quarter next year in response to a surge in cases referred by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Suspended prison sentence for unregulated immigration adviser
A man convicted of three counts of providing unregulated immigration advice and services has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
No jail for law student convicted of abusing England footballer
The law student who called England footballer Bukayo Saka a ‘monkey’ in an online rant has been handed a conditional discharge after insisting he did not intend to be racist.
Solicitor suspended from practice 12 years ago can return to roll
A solicitor suspended indefinitely in 2012 for failing to produce accounts after his law firm closed can return to the roll, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has decided.
Licensed conveyancers “looking to recruit from school”
Licensed conveyancers are targeting schools in an effort to improve recruitment and raise the profile of the profession.
MPs hear call for action against ‘no win, no fee’ lawyers after SSB collapse
MPs whose constituents have been badly affected by the collapse of SSB Law have pledged to lobby the new government to take action against lawyers and others.
Ireland allows barristers to become law firm partners
The Republic of Ireland has introduced ‘legal partnerships’, allowing barristers to be partners with solicitors in law firms for the first time and to form partnerships with other barristers.
Fine over use of law firm as partner’s in-house legal department
The two partners of a firm whose purpose is to serve the non-legal business interests of one of them have been fined for multiple rule breaches, including using client account as a banking facility.
Solicitor fined for inaccurate declaration over £1m Covid loan
A solicitor who signed an inaccurate declaration that triggered the release of a £1m Covid loan to a client, has been fined £15,000.
“Disruptive action” may be needed to improve diversity, LSB warns
Bullying and harassment is not limited to the Bar and “disruptive action” may be needed to create a “fair, healthy, diverse and inclusive legal profession”, the Legal Services Board has warned.
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.
