Compliance & Regulation
Bar chief suspended for train chat that breached court order
The former head of the Scottish Bar has been suspended after being filmed on a train naming women who had accused ex-SNP leader Alex Salmond of sexual assault, in breach of a court order.
Law firm fined after building up £105k in residual client balances
A North London law firm that allowed £105,000 of residual client balances to build up over 13 years has been fined £14,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
SDT clears City lawyer in Zoom “espionage” case
A senior City lawyer accused of misconduct which the public would view as “perhaps even tantamount to espionage” has been cleared by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
LSB has “no role” in promoting use of technology
The Legal Services Board has “no role” in promoting the use of technology and there are “dangers in using regulatory levers to attempt to do so”, the Bar Council has warned.
SRA finally moves to shut down Axiom Ince
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has today closed down Axiom Ince, the scandal-hit law firm that was on the verge of collapse.
High Court rejects appeal from “I like what I see” solicitor
The High Court has rejected an appeal against a £20,000 fine imposed on a male law firm owner who said “mmm, I like what I see” to a young woman applying for a paralegal position.
LSB seeks new role as AML supervisor for legal services
The Legal Services Board has argued that it should take over responsibility for anti-money laundering supervision in legal services from OPBAS.
The SIF debate is finally over as SRA takes control of run-off scheme
The seven-year debate over the future of the Solicitors Indemnity Fund has finally ended, with the Solicitors Regulation Authority formally taking over its management on Sunday.
“Shocking and abhorrent” conduct – SDT explains Bretherton strike-off
The conduct of the City solicitor struck off for taking sexual advantage of an 18-year-old apprentice was “shocking and abhorrent”, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has said.
SRA fines law firm £45,000 for how it ran financial mis-selling claims
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has slapped a law firm with a £45,000 fine for multiple failures in its conduct of financial mis-selling claims.
Law firm data breach “highlights risks to domestic violence victims”
A family law firm that disclosed personal data about a woman and children to her rapist ex-partner has been highlighted in a warning over how data breaches are putting domestic abuse victims’ lives at risk.
Ban for cashier convicted of stealing from law firm employer
A legal cashier who received a suspended jail sentence for stealing money from her law firm’s office account has been banned from the profession.
Taskforce to investigate ethics of City law firms acting for oligarchs
A heavy hitting group of City lawyers and anti-corruption experts is to examine the ethics of solicitors providing civil legal services to overseas oligarchs and kleptocrats.
“We could yet intervene in Axiom Ince,” SRA boss says
The Solicitors Regulation Authority may yet intervene in Axiom Ince, the law firm that now seems on the brink of collapse, it confirmed yesterday.
SRA steps up pressure on immigration firms with new warning notice
The SRA has today ratcheted up the pressure on immigration firms, with a warning notice reminding them not to be “complicit in providing false or fabricated” information.
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.
