Compliance & Regulation
SRA issues detailed defence of its actions on Axiom Ince
The SRA yesterday issued its first detailed statement on the Axiom Ince scandal, saying the suspected dishonesty was “sophisticated” and missed by everyone else.
ASA bans law firm’s TikTok adverts for misleading consumers
The Advertising Standards Authority has banned two misleading TikTok posts by a law firm for not making clear that the people featured were not genuine clients.
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.
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.
