Compliance & Regulation
SRA needs to change “at pace” to catch next PM Law, says LSB
The plans to transform the Solicitors Regulation Authority are promising but need to be seen through “at pace”, the new chief executive of the Legal Services Board has told Legal Futures.
SRA set to issue Mazur guidance – but onus is on solicitors
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to publish guidance on the implications on the Mazur ruling very shortly, it has told MPs.
Solicitor who lied to indemnity insurer is suspended
A solicitor who admitted misleading his indemnity insurer about being the sole signatory on client account and practised without insurance for several months, has been suspended.
Junior solicitor used AI to draft misleading letters to court
A junior solicitor who used AI to draft two misleading emails to the High Court “seems to have almost entirely outsourced the thinking process”, the judge has said.
SDT: Solicitor’s antisemitic tweets were “attention seeking”
A law firm owner who sent antisemitic messages on social media was attention seeking, rather than antisemitic, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has decided.
Suspended suspension for boss who bullied junior female staff
A law firm owner who bullied and harassed five junior female colleagues, including taking one to his flat after a Christmas party and asking her for a kiss, has been handed a suspended suspension.
SRA ordered to make interim £200k costs payment to Dentons
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has been ordered make an interim costs payment of £200,000 to global law firm Dentons – but the Court of Appeal questioned the overall costs claimed.
FCA claims market review to focus on financial services and housing
The Financial Conduct Authority’s review of the claims management market will focus on financial services and products, and housing disrepair, it has announced.
Solicitor struck off for asking client to pay fees into his bank account
A criminal defence solicitor who asked a client to pay his law firm’s fees into his personal bank account has been struck off for dishonesty.
Barrister fined for accusing senior judge of misconduct loses appeal
The High Court has dismissed an appeal by a barrister fined £15,000 for making an “unfounded and serious allegation of misconduct in public office” against a senior judge.
New approach to client complaints may be needed in age of AI
Existing approaches to legal services complaints handling “might not be suited to the challenges posed” by the age of AI, the Law Society has warned.
LeO directs law firm to pay £49k in latest public interest decisions
The Legal Ombudsman directed London law firm Laytons to pay £49,000 in compensation to a client for failing to register her lease extension in the latest batch of public interest decisions.
Sports solicitor fails in challenge to SRA intervention
A High Court judge has rejected a high-profile sports lawyer’s challenge to an intervention in his law firm by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
SRA highlights spike in conduct complaints amid “outsourcing ruse”
Misconduct reports about solicitors have risen 27% in the past year – and 58% over two years – the Solicitors Regulation Authority has revealed.
Financial Services Bill will be vehicle for AML switch to FCA
The government is set to legislate to transfer the anti-money laundering supervision of lawyers to the Financial Conduct Authority, it has emerged.
Blog
Is your Google Ads budget funding your competitors’ AI visibility?
If your cost-per-click has crept up again this year, you’ve probably assumed the market simply got more expensive. That’s the wrong way to read what’s happening.
Containing the spread of unapproved AI
Nearly 60% of fee-earners admit to using unapproved tools (like free versions of ChatGPT). Yet 68% of firm leaders are confident there is zero risk of unapproved AI being used for client work.
When AI adoption goes wrong, costs add up fast
City AM recently reported that London is fighting to claim the title of ‘global capital of legal AI’. However, it’s crucial we remember that adoption alone does not create value.
