Compliance & Regulation
EDI initiatives not “shifting the law’s systemic inequalities”
There are multiple factors behind the failure of equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives to “shift the systemic inequalities that are entrenched” across the legal profession.
Proportion of women “ultimately decreases” in journey to judiciary
The proportion of women lawyers “fluctuates but ultimately decreases” on the pipeline from qualifying to becoming judges, a report for the Legal Services Board has found.
Regulators “must warn lawyers against taking advantage of LiPs”
Legal regulators must warn lawyers that they will face action to stop them unethically taking advantage of vulnerable litigants, a charity has urged.
London office of top US firm to face tribunal over alleged AML failures
The London office of a leading US law firm is to face the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over alleged failures of its anti-money laundering controls lasting several years.
SRA imposes controls on firm employee who assaulted colleagues
A former law firm employee convicted of two assaults on colleagues in a nightclub after a work dinner has been given a conditional ban from the profession.
Barristers should have duty to “actively promote anti-discrimination”
Barristers should be under a professional duty to actively promote anti-discriminatory attitudes and behaviours, it has been suggested. But this was not about requiring barristers to be ‘woke’.
Two solicitors fined for refusing to give breath samples
Two solicitors convicted of failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis after minor car accidents have been fined by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Third US state set to allow alternative business structures
The slow creep of ABSs into the US is set to take a significant step forward next month when plans for a pilot are put to the supreme court of Washington state.
Formal warning for coroner overheard bad-mouthing barrister
An assistant coroner overheard describing a barrister’s submission as “bollocks” and a judge who took 16 months to produce a ruling have been disciplined for misconduct.
Charging law firms £250 “makes volume FOS claims unmanageable”
Charging law firms fees of £250 per case to bring complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service could make volume complaints “unmanageable”, the Law Society has warned.
Property firm fined £22k for money laundering failures
A property law firm in Manchester has been handed a fine of nearly £22,000 for failures in anti-money laundering procedures, towards the top end of the SRA’s powers.
Partner suspended for sexual misconduct at firm retreat
A former board-level partner at a well-known law firm has been suspended for nine months for making inappropriate sexual advances to a colleague at a partners’ away weekend.
Judge warned over misconduct in own divorce proceedings
A deputy district judge has received a formal warning for misconduct over how he presented his financial situation in divorce proceedings.
Solicitor struck off over missing money that has cost profession £3.8m
A solicitor who has cost the profession more than £3.8m in payments from the SRA Compensation Fund to replace money that was taken from property clients has been struck off.
Solicitor fined for transferring £10k of client money by error
A solicitor who mistakenly transferred £10,000 of client money to his firm’s business account – and did not realise for six months – has been fined by the SRA.
Blog
Listening, learning and leading The Solicitor’s Charity with care
As I prepare to hand over the mantle of chair of The Solicitor’s Charity next month, it doesn’t feel like an end. Instead, it feels like a wonderful journey.
Is competition in the legal sector stifling innovation?
As the legal sector’s competitive landscape continues to evolve, Nobel laureates remind us that innovation is not inevitable,and that competition may not always be an incentive to innovate.
What high-performing consumer claims firms get right
Recurring concerns about parts of the volume claims sector show that the gap between well-run firms and those struggling to manage volume effectively is widening.
