Compliance & Regulation
Nearly half of Bar students now from ethnic minority backgrounds
Nearly half of UK students on the Bar training course are now from ethnic minority backgrounds, compared to a quarter a decade ago, according to new figures.
Some lawyers’ conduct poses “significant risk to the rule of law”
Lawyers can sometimes be “too inclined” to act unethically or use a “mistaken” adherence to an overly narrow view of the rule of law to justify questionable conduct, major new research has said.
Axiom Ince: SRA receives £33m in client claims but no in-year call for funds
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has decided against making an unprecedented mid-year call on the profession to bolster its Compensation Fund in wake of Axiom Ince’s collapse.
Law firms “continue to threaten” journalists despite SRA warnings
Libel law firms continue to mislead journalists and others that their letters cannot be published and the SRA needs to act, high-profile tax lawyer Dan Neidle said yesterday.
Solicitor MP clashes with CILEX leaders over regulatory reforms
A solicitor MP yesterday clashed with the leaders of CILEX over the body’s planned reforms, including using the title ‘chartered lawyer’ and creating chartered paralegals.
Solicitor rebuked for baseless threat to prosecute law firm
A solicitor who threatened another law firm with criminal proceedings if it did not settle a negligence claim, when in reality that would not happen, has been rebuked by the SRA.
“Shamelessness” of SLAPPs has grown but still no disciplinary action
The number and “shamelessness” of SLAPPs has grown but there has been no disciplinary action against the lawyers responsible for how they are run, a major conference heard yesterday.
Reprimand for barrister who gave magistrates a Nazi salute
A veteran barrister who used a German accent during proceedings before magistrates and raised his hand to the bench in a Nazi salute, has been reprimanded by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.
Leading firm fined £101,000 for anti-money laundering failures
A leading South-West law firm has been fined £101,357 for failing to act over money laundering red flags on three property transactions, two of which may have involved a sanctioned entity.
Legal Services Board eyes 14% increase in budget
The Legal Services Board is considering a 14% increase in its budget in a bid to strengthen its “direct oversight” of the frontline regulators’ performance.
SDT was wrong to slash SRA’s prosecution costs, High Court rules
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal was wrong to slash the costs of the Solicitors Regulation Authority in a successful prosecution by 78%, the High Court has ruled.
Law firms “may avoid high-risk work” under new complaints rules
Law firms may avoid carrying out work in “high-risk sectors” under the new regime planned by the Legal Services Board for client complaints, the Law Society has warned.
Disbarred barrister convicted over antisemitic blog posts
A former barrister who was disbarred for antisemitic and racist tweets has now been convicted for grossly offensive antisemitic material posted on his blog.
Solicitor accepts “substantial damages” over Times libel
A solicitor whose political ambitions were derailed by a libellous article about his legal work for miners has accepted “substantial” damages from The Times.
Consolidation of legal regulators “may be a good thing”
Consolidation of legal regulators “may be a good thing” if it pulls together knowledge, lessons, consumer research and engagement, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has said.
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.
