Compliance & Regulation
GCHQ: Nation states and hacktivists pose cyber-threat to legal sector
Nation states and hacktivists are cyber threats to law firms in addition to criminals, the government’s National Cyber Security Centre as warned.
Client biases “help explain” number of BAME solicitors in SRA’s sights
Bias among those who make complaints and the types of firms BAME solicitors work for might explain why they are overrepresented in disciplinary activity, researchers have suggested.
Solicitor misled client and sent SRA faked documents
A solicitor who misled his client about the progress of her employment claim and then sent the Solicitors Regulation Authority fabricated documents to back up his position has been struck off.
Solicitor struck off for deception over money that was never missing
A solicitor who complained to his bank about a missing transfer of £189,000 has been struck off because the money was never there and he faked various documents to back up his case.
Chambers offered to “carry me up stairs” to pupillage interview
A barrister with a spinal cord injury has described how a set of chambers, despite being told in advance that he was disabled, offered to carry him up the stairs to a pupillage interview.
Solicitor successfully appeals rebuke issued by SRA
A solicitor has had a rare success in successfully appealing a rebuke issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which had found him vicariously responsible for errors by his bookkeepers.
Around 60% of non-practising solicitors apply to stay on roll
Around 60% of non-practising solicitors have paid £20 to remain on the roll for the next year after the first exercise to update it since 2014.
Firms could be forced to point consumers to LeO complaints records
Law firms may be compelled to point potential clients to Legal Ombudsman decisions about them to help make it easier for consumers to choose a lawyer.
SRA rebukes lawyers for bankruptcy and costs misconduct
A solicitor who continued to practise after being made bankrupt and a fee-earner who failed to return disallowed costs to Court of Protection clients have been rebuked.
SRA looks to “harness the potential of unbundling”
The Solicitors Regulation Authority wants to “harness the potential of unbundling to broaden access to legal services and increase consumer choice”, it said yesterday.
Bar chair calls for private prosecutions rethink after Post Office scandal
It is time to look “very carefully” at whether those who “regarded themselves as victims” should be able to bring private prosecutions in the wake of the Post Office scandal.
Unregulated legal services firms “want more regulation”
Most unregulated legal services firms support “some aspects of regulation” for their areas but there is not a clear case for major reform, a report for the SRA has concluded.
Solicitor struck off after police Grindr sting
A solicitor caught in a police sting while using gay dating app Grindr and convicted of attempted sexual communication with a child has been struck off.
Barrister jailed for obtaining drugs from criminal clients
A barrister infamous for his conviction for possession of drugs that led to the death of his boyfriend has been jailed for 14 months after obtaining drugs from clients he was representing.
City solicitor sexually obsessed with teenage co-worker struck off
A City lawyer who shared intimate pictures with a teenage apprentice and sent her a video of him pleasuring himself was yesterday struck off.
Blog
Why AI and leadership choices will define law firm profitability in 2026
Despite rapid advances in legal technology, the future of law will not be determined by software alone. It will be shaped by leadership decisions.
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.
