Compliance & Regulation
Solicitor struck off for lying to friend about training contract offer
A solicitor who convinced a friend that he was director of a Somerset law firm and could get her a training contract has been struck off.
Seven arrests in dawn raids as SFO launches Axiom Ince probe
The Serious Fraud Office today arrested seven people and carried out dawn raids across nine sites, as it announced the launch of a criminal investigation into Axiom Ince.
BSB social media guidance “will do little to protect women’s voices”
The Bar Standards Board’s new social media guidance “will do little to protect women’s voices an increasingly digitised world”, two leading female barristers have argued.
Conveyancers disqualified in “one of most serious cases”
Two licensed conveyancers found guilty of widespread misconduct have been disqualified after a panel described theirs as “one of the most serious cases” it had ever heard.
Prosecutor suspended for romantic interest in defendant
A barrister who used information he had as a prosecutor to pursue a romantic interest in the defendant has been suspended from practice for 26 months.
Barrister disbarred for lying to law firm employer about conviction
A barrister who lied to a law firm about not having any unspent convictions when applying for a job and then working there has been disbarred.
Judge halves suspension of barrister who misled Court of Appeal
The High Court has halved the 12-month suspension imposed on a barrister who recklessly misled the Court of Appeal because the tribunal failed to take proper account of mitigating factors.
Media lawyers accuse Law Society of letting down members over SLAPPs
A newly formed group of leading media lawyers has accused the Law Society of failing to represent its members’ interests in relation to SLAPPs.
Judge rejects firm’s bid to increase bill after LeO agreement
A law firm which reduced its fees in an informal resolution of a client’s complaint brokered by the Legal Ombudsman could not later submit a higher revised bill.
New titles and regulator for CILEX lawyers “will confuse consumers”
The Solicitors Regulation Authority taking over the regulation of chartered legal executives risks confusing consumers, the Law Society has argued.
Solicitor who took £400,000 from estates is struck off
A solicitor who misappropriated £200,000 from the estates of clients and overcharged them by almost £200,000, has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Rebuke for firm that acted on both sides without client consent
A law firm that acted on both sides of a conveyancing transaction without obtaining consent from the buyer has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Lawyers “should pay £150 levy to fund social welfare law”
Lawyers should pay a levy of £150 each through their practising fees to fund social welfare law, and there should also be a £30 levy on county court cases, an event heard yesterday.
Law Society warns SRA to tread carefully over compensation fund cash
The Law Society has warned the Solicitors Regulation Authority not to ask the profession to stump up millions to boost its compensation fund without consulting first.
CILEX regulator rejects “deskilled” advocacy warning over higher rights
The regulator of chartered legal executives has rejected warnings from barristers of a “deskilled” advocacy profession with a “third and lower tier”, if it goes ahead with granting higher rights of audience.
Blog
Legal director: an alternative to partnership
Firms are increasingly acknowledging the need for alternative senior roles – positions that offer influence and recognition without the obligations of ownership.
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.
