Compliance & Regulation
Conveyancing assistant signed form in name of supervisor
A conveyancing assistant who signed a form purporting to be her line manager because she was under pressure from her client has been barred from working for law firms.
Solicitor cleared over “accidental” kiss with colleague
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has dismissed an allegation that a solicitor planted an unwanted kiss on the lips of a more junior colleague at their firm’s spring party.
Chalk accepts “growing case” to review regulation of lawyers
There is “a growing case” for a review of the regulatory framework created by the Legal Services Act 2007, the Lord Chancellor has acknowledged.
SRA seeks power to launch “spot checks” of law firms
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has called for the power to launch “wide-sweeping inspections” of law firms without needing the trigger of a specific allegation of misconduct.
Pupillage providers using blind recruitment “are less diverse”
Pupillage providers using blind or contextual recruitment techniques have a higher proportion of male and White pupils than those who do not, Bar Standards Board research has found.
Ex-City solicitor jailed for 15 years over investment frauds
A former City solicitor who was one of the architects of a Ponzi scheme that multiplied into several investment frauds has been jailed for 15 years.
SRA issues warnings over conduct of volume consumer claims
Law firms handling bulk financial product mis-selling claims have been warned about their conduct of cases by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Struck-off solicitor jailed for more immigration offences
A solicitor struck off after being convicted of immigration law offences while suspended has now been jailed for seven and a half years for fraudulent immigration advice.
Barrister sacked by Parole Board over “catastrophic error”
A barrister has failed in a challenge to her removal from the Parole Board after she directed the release of a violent prisoner based on a mistaken understanding of the facts.
Solicitor who left Harvester without paying is struck off
A criminal defence solicitor convicted of failing to pay a combined £104.38 at a Harvester restaurant and to a Just Eat delivery driver has been struck off.
Barrister disbarred for harassment wins fresh sanction decision
A male barrister disbarred for sexual harassment is to have the sanction redetermined because the panel appeared to have prematurely decided it, the High Court has ruled.
Partner lied to client while doing nothing on her claim for 17 years
A former partner at Slater & Gordon who deceived a client for 17 years about the progress on her claim – when in fact he did nothing on it for all that time – has been struck off.
CMA warns unregulated providers over comparisons with solicitors
Unregulated providers of will writing and online divorce services should not make “misleading comparisons” with solicitors, the Competition and Markets Authority has warned
Probate manager jailed after stealing £634k from two law firms
A probate manager who took £634,000 from estates while working at two law firms has been jailed for four years after pleading guilty to charges of fraud by abuse of position and money laundering.
Solicitor rejected settlement offers without client instructions
A solicitor who rejected offers to settle a case without instructions from his client has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Blog
Why law firms are getting AI supervision wrong
The profession’s response to AI supervision failures misunderstands the nature of LLM output – there needs to be for a shift in the culture.
Beyond the PII premium – rethinking risk
Professional indemnity insurance renewal is often treated as an annual pricing exercise. But it is also a chance to show how effectively you identify, manage and mitigate risk.
The AI governance gap in law firms and why it matters now
A third of law firms are already using AI tools with no formal policy in place to govern how AI gets used, what data goes into it, or who’s accountable when something goes wrong.
Reports
Associates
