“Old school” solicitor used £500,000 of client money to prop up firm
An “old school” solicitor in his late 70s who overcharged three estates and a trust by nearly £500,000 to provide cash flow for his firm has been struck off.
Solicitors to foot £1.2m bill for relocating disciplinary tribunal
Solicitors are to pay an extra £1.2m towards the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in 2023 after its existing landlord pulled the offer of a new lease, meaning it will have to relocate.
Solicitors sanctioned after drugs and dangerous driving convictions
A solicitor who was convicted of drug-driving and possession of cocaine, MDMA and cannabis has been fined £10,000, while another has been rebuked after being convicted of dangerous driving.
Lawyers write “user manuals” so colleagues can understand them
The founder of a law firm at the forefront of the wellbeing movement has described how lawyers write “user manuals” about themselves, which colleagues read to help understand the way they work.
Crowdfunding raises £9.1m for 413 judicial reviews
Crowdfunding judicial reviews has raised over £9.1m in donations for 413 cases, an academic analysis has revealed. The financial reality of bringing a typical claim was “incredibly burdensome”.
Fine for law firm that acted on both sides of development agreement
A law firm that at different times acted for either side of a development agreement it drafted, including on a dispute between the two parties, has been fined by the SRA.
Survey: Shaky economy pushing clients to less expensive competitors
Clients are moving work to less expensive competitors amid rising costs and an increasingly uncertain economic outlook, putting pressure on law firms to respond, a survey has suggested.
Legal Services Act with us for “one or two decades” more, LSB chief says
It is “highly over-optimistic” to think the Legal Services Act will be reformed or replaced by the government in the next couple of years, the chief executive of the Legal Services Board has warned.
Belsner faces £130k costs payment but Checkmylegalfees “has a future”
The Court of Appeal has signalled the possibility of a non-party costs order in the Belsner case after ordering the claimant to make an interim costs payment of £130,000.
High Court rejects struck-off solicitor’s bid to return to roll
The High Court has rejected an appeal from a struck-off solicitor whose application to be restored to the roll was refused by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal earlier this year.
