Compliance & Regulation
LeO’s backlog “reflects scale of challenges”, chief ombudsman says
The backlog of almost 3,400 cases waiting to be investigated at the Legal Ombudsman “reflects the scale of the challenges” it faces, the chief ombudsman has said.
Complaints about the SRA rise by 29%
Complaints about the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s handling of cases rose by 29% last year, with the increase in interventions part of the reason.
NY lawyers can passively invest in ABSs, says city bar association
A New York lawyer may hold a financial interest in an alternative business structure operating legally elsewhere, the city bar association has said.
Huge hike in compensation fund levy to go ahead
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is pressing ahead with a huge hike in the compensation fund levy in the wake of the spiralling cost of law firm failures.
Aggregation fears “set to drive up cost” of indemnity insurance
Solicitors may face a more restricted professional indemnity insurance market this year amid growing concern over limitations on insurers aggregating claims.
Accusations fly amid “hostility” between LSB and Bar regulator
Relations between the Legal Services Board and the Bar Standards Board are close to breaking point over the speed of reform at the barrister regulator.
SRA reports two law firms to Treasury for breaching Russia sanctions
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has reported two law firms to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, part of the Treasury, for breaching sanctions on Russia.
Boss struck off over pension cash misuse – but fellow partners cleared
A managing partner who used staff pension contributions to prop up his firm has been struck off, but his two equity partners were cleared of misconduct.
Time to reset legal regulation and ethics, says consumer panel head
The new Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, needs to recognise the need for an overhaul of the legal regulatory regime, the new chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel has argued.
Fine and reprimands for barrister over conduct as law firm owner
A barrister has been fined £5,000 by a Bar disciplinary tribunal, after he failed to report an SRA investigation into the removal of 242 wills from a law firm he owned.
Solicitor used client money to keep PI firm afloat
A solicitor who “repeatedly” transferred money from client to office account to prop up his firm has been struck off by the Solicitor Disciplinary Tribunal.
CLC ups financial pressure on firms to deal with complaints
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers is planning to ratchet up the financial pressure on the firms that fail to handle complaints properly under its ‘polluter pays’ approach.
Number of Bar students continues to grow
The number of students on Bar vocational courses has continued to grow since the pandemic, new figures have shown. Those with a first-class degree performed far better than others.
Welsh chambers breaks ground with first ICO legal services certification
The largest chambers in Wales has become the first legal services provider to obtain the new law-specific data protection certification approved by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
CILEX set to make final decision on SRA switch in October
CILEX is set to make a final decision on whether to seek to transfer regulator to the Solicitors Regulation Authority in October, and has named a new chair and president.
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.
