SRA struggling to keep hold of anti-money laundering staff
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is facing “challenges” in retaining staff in its anti-money laundering team, in part because it cannot compete with private sector salaries.
More than half of conveyancing firms lack “digital maturity”
More than half of conveyancing firms (57%) lack “digital maturity”, a report has found, with one in five firms (22%) not accepting electronic signatures.
Incorrect precedent led to wrong ground rent advice for 115 clients
A solicitor who gave 115 clients the wrong advice about the ground rent provisions in the leases of properties they were buying – because of an incorrect precedent – has been fined £15,000.
Senior Costs Judge: Break the link between case and costs management
Case and costs management should be separated, and costs judges tasked with setting the budget and also summarily assessing incurred costs, the Senior Costs Judge has suggested.
BSB steps up anti-bullying work but says Bar culture must change
The Bar Standards Board is to step up efforts to encourage more reporting of bullying and harassment but says ultimately the onus is on the Bar to change its culture.
“No appetite” among law firms for transparency quality mark
There is “no real appetite” among consumer law firms for an accreditation scheme or other recognition denoting the quality of their transparency, a report has found.
OIC: Under-settlement fears as system problems grow backlog
The Official Injury Claim portal is still not working well, with growing delays and concerns that injured people are under-settling as a result, a leading claimant lawyer said yesterday.
Profession backs SIF but SRA “can save £500k” with new scheme
The majority of respondents to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s discussion paper on post-six-year run-off cover supported retaining the Solicitors Indemnity Fund, it has emerged.
City solicitor avoids jail after criminal contempt finding
A senior City partner who told a client to “burn” a private messaging app after it was served with a search order has avoided jail for criminal contempt of court, in part because of the impact on his career.
Market for corporate and commercial work to “cool substantially”
The market for corporate, commercial and competition work is likely to “cool substantially” this year and next after the “ferocious” post-lockdown boom.
