Compliance & Regulation
ICO reprimands law firm over data breach that saw money stolen
The Information Commissioner’s Office has reprimanded a law firm after a cyber-attack led to a data breach and four fraudulent payments being made on a probate matter.
Solicitor struck off for taking loan from client and trying to conceal it
A veteran solicitor who borrowed £25,000 from a client to help prop up his firm and then tried to hide it from the Solicitors Regulation Authority as fees paid on account has been struck off.
SRA intervenes into practice of Axiom Ince boss
The boss of Axiom Ince, the law firm that recently bought both Ince & Co and Plexus Legal out of administration, is under investigation by the SRA for possible dishonesty.
CILEX unveils plans for SRA-regulated ‘chartered lawyers’
CILEX has unveiled plans to introduce new ‘chartered lawyer’ and ‘chartered litigator’ titles at the same time as switching regulator from CILEx Regulation Ltd to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
SRA: Solicitors “routinely underestimate” risks in NDAs
The risks and consequences arising from non-disclosure agreements are routinely underestimated and rarely explored by solicitors, a major review has found.
SDT anticipates more cases on “toxic” law firm cultures
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal expects to see more cases involving “toxic and anachronistic” work cultures, and more appeals against the SRA’s use of its higher fining powers.
SRA: Shutting Daily Mail sting firms was not due to political pressure
The boss of the SRA said today that the decision to shut down three law firms caught in a Daily Mail undercover sting had nothing to do with the political pressure that followed.
CILEX advocate sets up personal injury firm regulated by BSB
A personal injury specialist has become one of the first CILEX advocates to set up a law firm regulated by the Bar Standards Board, providing county court advocacy services.
Solicitor who lied to client and SRA is struck off
A solicitor who repeatedly lied to a client and also acted for clients while he was suspended, lying about it to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, has been struck off.
Is our compliance officer actually complying?
By Sarah Charlton of BlueSky Legal Finance & Management Solutions In the first of a new monthly ‘Ask the Expert’ series from Insight Legal, legal finance and management specialist Sarah Charlton considers a question many partners at smaller firms must… Read More
Bar chief: Legal Twitter pile-ons “getting out of hand”
The number of ‘pile-ons’ on legal Twitter is “getting out of hand”, the chairman of the Bar Council has argued ahead of the BSB looking to “tackle gendered bullying” in revised social media guidance.
Freezing order for disbarred barrister acting as McKenzie Friend
A one-time barrister disbarred in 2016 has had her assets frozen over allegations of misappropriating money from a client while acting as a McKenzie Friend.
Another leading City firm to face tribunal over alleged AML breaches
Leading City law firm Clyde & Co is to face the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for alleged breaches of the Money Laundering Regulations, the second big firm referred in a fortnight.
Fines for solicitor who misused client account and COFA who let him
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has handed substantial fines to a director who used his firm’s client account as a banking facility and the compliance officer who allowed it.
Government ramps up focus on “crooked” immigration lawyers
The government has upped its attacks on “crooked” immigration lawyers by unveiling a taskforce to increase enforcement action against those who help migrants exploit the system.
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.
