Compliance & Regulation
CILEX move “could open door to single regulator”
The dispute between CILEX and its regulator opens the door to a single regulator for the legal profession, another of the regulators has cautioned.
Solicitor handed record SRA fine for accounts rules breaches
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has fined a senior partner £18,750 for accounts rules breaches – the biggest fine for an individual since the regulator was given increased powers last year.
Pandemic experience has given lawyers more confidence in tech
The experience of the pandemic has given lawyers greater confidence in innovation and technology, leading to a “step change” in their use over the past three years, major research has found.
Solicitor failed to tell clients their claims had been struck out
A senior solicitor who misled two clients for three years over the progress of their personal injury claims – when they had actually been struck out – has been struck off.
“About time” – Post Office replaces HSF as Horizon inquiry lawyers
The Post Office has replaced City giant Herbert Smith Freehills as its solicitors for the ongoing Horizon IT Inquiry, it announced yesterday, a move observers suggested was overdue.
Career barriers “could widen ethnicity attainment gap” in SQE
Career barriers facing law students from ethnic minority backgrounds could affect their performance in the SQE if they feel there is little point in doing well.
Vaginal mesh claimants “distraught” after SRA closes firm
Women who claim to have been harmed by vaginal mesh implant surgery have been left “angry and distraught” after the SRA closed down a law firm acting for them.
Barrister suspended for recklessly misleading Court of Appeal
A barrister who recklessly misled the Court of Appeal – and made “serious and misconceived allegations” against other lawyers in doing so – has been suspended for a year.
Lawyers face beefed-up rules on handling complaints
Changes to statutory requirements on how lawyers handle complaints will move closer this week amid concern that consumers are being let down at the moment.
Fine for firm that failed to recognise conflict in property dispute
A law firm that failed to recognise a conflict of interest when it acted for one party in a dispute over a boundary issue on a property it had divided has been fined £4,250.
Solicitor who “continuously and repeatedly” lied to client is struck off
A solicitor who “continuously and repeatedly” lied to a client about the progress of his professional negligence claim has been struck off.
Lawyer eco-campaigners urge City giant to stop fossil fuel work
Climate change campaign group Lawyers Are Responsible has urged law firm giant Allen & Overy to cease acting on fossil fuel infrastructure projects and refuse any future instructions.
SRA to publish salaries of fined solicitors
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to publish the salaries of the solicitors it fines and impose ‘default salaries’ on those who refuse to reveal them.
Solicitor’s inadequate AML checks led to property frauds
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has suspended the owner of a London law firm whose “failings” resulted in two fraudulent property transactions.
Solicitor fabricated court order to hide lack of progress with case
A solicitor who fabricated a court order to hide his lack of progress with a case – as well as an email purporting to seek enforcement of it – has been struck off.
Blog
The SRA needs to admit it got it wrong about SLAPPs
The High Court judgment in Ashley Hurst v SRA in January raises serious questions about the regulator’s approach to allegations of SLAPP-like behaviour.
Why menopause support belongs on every law firm’s agenda
Progression in the law slows significantly as women approach senior leadership. Most will be at the height of their careers around the average age menopause symptoms begin.
Law firms need to go beyond document checks
At the root of every failed compliance review is a familiar phrase: a calm assertion of “but we did a document check”.
