Compliance & Regulation
Family lawyer convicted over offensive text to ex-partner
A family law specialist convicted of sending a malicious communication to his ex-partner has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Suspension for solicitor who misled court, client and firm
A junior solicitor who failed to tell her law firm or client that its defence and counterclaim in a personal injury matter had been struck out has been suspended for 12 months.
Solicitor fined for statements made on “antisemitic” Iranian TV show
A solicitor who appeared on an antisemitic television programme on the Iranian state-owned TV channel has been fined for comments he made about London law firm Mishcon de Reya.
Law student convicted of racial slurs aimed at England footballer
A law student who called England footballer Bukayo Saka a ‘monkey’ in an online rant was warned last week that he could go to jail.
Bar disciplinary tribunal under spotlight over secrecy of hearings
The secrecy of proceedings at the Bar disciplinary tribunal is under scrutiny in two high-profile cases where one barrister wants privacy and the other more openness.
SSB clients’ distress as cavity wall claims are transferred to third firm
The law firm that took on SSB Law’s cavity wall insulation cases after it went bust is exiting the field and passing the files on again to Hugh James.
All Daily Mail sting solicitors to face disciplinary tribunal
The three solicitors whose firms were shut down last year after being named in a Daily Mail undercover investigation are to face the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
New BSB duty “would require barristers to become social engineers”
More high-profile figures have expressed their concern at the Bar Standards Board’s plan to impose a new positive duty on barristers to act in a way that “advances” equality, diversity and inclusion.
Rebukes for solicitors over inadequate service and not passing on cash
An experienced partner who failed to give a divorce client competent advice, leading to costs orders against the client, herself and her firm, has been rebuked.
Bar tribunal hands ‘opera assault’ lawyer harsher sanction than SRA
A dual-qualified lawyer convicted of beating a man in a confrontation at the Royal Opera House has been handed a harsher sanction by a Bar disciplinary tribunal than the SRA.
Barrister convicted of harassing ex-partner suspended from practice
A barrister convicted of harassing his former partner with a barrage of “very abusive, insulting and irrational” emails has been suspended for nine months by a disciplinary tribunal.
Solicitors sanctioned for inadequate advice over care home rooms
A solicitor who failed to advise clients adequately over the high risks of buying and subletting rooms in care homes has been fined, with the newly qualified who worked with him rebuked.
IT worker banned for stealing laptops from major City law firm
A member of IT staff at City giant Ashurst who stole two laptops from the firm and sold them on has been banned from working in the profession.
BSB rules loom large in row over Israel arrest warrants
UK Lawyers for Israel has confirmed it is to complain to the Bar Standards Board about the conduct of International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan KC.
Gender-critical barristers’ alarm at BSB equality rule reform
Two barristers with high-profile gender-critical views have expressed alarm at the Bar Standards Board’s proposed rewrite of its equality rules.
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.
