Compliance & Regulation
Partner lied to client while doing nothing on her claim for 17 years
A former partner at Slater & Gordon who deceived a client for 17 years about the progress on her claim – when in fact he did nothing on it for all that time – has been struck off.
CMA warns unregulated providers over comparisons with solicitors
Unregulated providers of will writing and online divorce services should not make “misleading comparisons” with solicitors, the Competition and Markets Authority has warned
Probate manager jailed after stealing £634k from two law firms
A probate manager who took £634,000 from estates while working at two law firms has been jailed for four years after pleading guilty to charges of fraud by abuse of position and money laundering.
Solicitor rejected settlement offers without client instructions
A solicitor who rejected offers to settle a case without instructions from his client has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Barrister who tried to double £500 fee with fake invoice disbarred
A barrister who tried to claim double the £500 fee he had agreed with his solicitor by providing the court with a fake fee note has been disbarred.
Legal Ombudsman fights off JR of refusal to uphold complaint
The High Court has dismissed a judicial review of a decision by the Legal Ombudsman to reject a complaint about a law firm made 18 years after the service was provided.
SRA stance on SLAPPs “will discourage lawyers from media work”
The stance of the SRA over SLAPPs will make lawyers reluctant to act on cases that could fall foul of the SLAPPs Bill going through Parliament, the Society of Media Lawyers has warned.
LSB tells regulators they need to promote tech and innovation
Legal regulators should consider explaining to the public “the benefits of using technology and innovation to access legal services”, the Legal Services Board has said.
Licensed conveyancer disqualified for “pattern” of dishonesty
A licensed conveyancer who lied to a client and fabricated a letter to him, lied to her law firm about it and then lied again to her regulator has been disqualified for 10 years.
Suspension for barrister who lied to client over binned files
A direct access barrister who lied to a client over files that were accidentally destroyed by his chambers has been suspended for six months by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.
Court orders law firm and partners to repay loans from couple
The High Court has ruled that a law firm and four of its former partners must repay money borrowed under loan agreements with a husband and his wife.
SRA anti-money laundering blitz continues with £76k in fines
The Solicitors Regulation Authority blitz on breaches of anti-money laundering rules has continued, with more than £76,000 in fines handed out to a solicitor and four law firms.
Suspended sentence for struck-off solicitor who misused client funds
A solicitor who used a client’s £132,000 divorce settlement to pay off her tax bill and give money to her daughter has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
SLAPPs review: Law firms show signs of improved behaviour
Law firms’ conduct of cases involving privacy and reputation appears to have improved over the past 18 months, according to new research by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Sunak promises ministerial action over SSB Law collapse
The collapse of SSB Law and impact on its former clients came to the attention of Rishi Sunak this week after it was raised at Prime Minister’s Questions.
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.
