Compliance & Regulation
Immigration solicitor’s complaints about Daily Mail sting rejected
One of the immigration solicitors caught up in a Daily Mail sting last summer has failed in his complaint about it to the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
Lawyer rebuked for not checking ID of walk-in client
A chartered legal executive who failed to check the identity of a walk-in client who said the firm had acted for him in the past has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
CMA urged to act over lack of progress on lawyer quality indicators
The Competition & Markets Authority has been urged to step in and accelerate the “painfully slow” progress legal regulators are making in developing quality indicators.
CA upholds ruling that solicitor did not condone partner’s £16m fraud
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the latest bid by the insurer of London law firm Jirehouse – whose founder is in jail for fraud – to exclude liability for the multi-million-pound loss suffered by a client.
Solicitor fined £15,000 fine for AML due diligence failures
A partner who failed to conduct proper client due diligence in property transactions that had signs of money laundering has been fined £15,000.
Private client lawyer who pocketed clients’ fees is struck off
A salaried partner who told clients to pay him in cash or with cheques made out to him, which he kept, has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
BSB to scrap requirement for barristers to have a degree
The BSB is planning to scrap the requirement that Bar students have at least a lower second-class degree, opening the way for those with third-class degrees or no degree at all to become a barrister.
First diversity profile of in-house solicitors puts public sector to fore
The public sector is home to a more diverse group of in-house solicitors than the private sector, Solicitors Regulation Authority data has shown.
Ex-Dentons lawyer barred after groping colleague at work social
A Scottish solicitor who groped a colleague while working in the City at Dentons has had controls placed on his future employment in the sector.
Legal Services Board begins hunt for new chief executive
The Legal Services Board is on the hunt for a new chief executive after Matthew Hill announced that he would be stepping down at the end of March 2024.
Tribunal rejects evidence that ‘Nazi salute’ barrister goose-stepped too
The barrister who gave a Nazi salute to magistrates during proceedings did not also goose-step or say “Sieg Heil”, despite evidence suggesting he did, a tribunal has found.
Legal practice course pass rate fell as SQE was introduced
The pass rate for legal practice course students fell to below 50% in the first year of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, new figures have shown.
Drink-drive solicitor handed unusually high £10,000 fine
The SRA has handed out a £10,000 fine – reduced from £16,000 due to co-operation – to a solicitor convicted of drink driving, an unusually high figure for the offence.
Tribunal slaps Clyde & Co with £500k fine for AML failures
Leading City firm Clyde & Co has been fined £500,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal – equalling the highest amount ever – for money laundering offences.
SRA issues first fixed penalty fine for compliance officer rule breach
A law firm in the North-East has become the first to receive a fixed penalty fine for not updating the Solicitors Regulation Authority on information about a compliance officer.
Blog
Accountability has to live within governance, not with one person
The assumption has long been that a COLP or COFA is personally exposed to the consequences of anti-money laundering breaches.
The SRA’s client money reforms: good intentions, questionable execution
On the face of it, the SRA’s plans to tighten protections around client money sounds sensible. The detail, as ever, tells a more complicated story.
Recruitment, retention and reward in the legal accounts world
Understanding the legal finance market is important – not just for those actively involved in it day-to-day but also for leaders within law firms.
