LeO to focus on improving quality – but delays remain
The Legal Ombudsman is to focus on improving the quality of its decision making as its caseload falls from 8,000 to a predicted 7,400 in 2019-20. But delays continue to dog the service.
Conveyancer who overcharged for search fees is suspended
A conveyancing solicitor who worked on a commission basis has been suspended for two years after being found to have regularly overcharged clients for search fees.
Lewis case: “Wishing death on neo-Nazis” went too far
High-profile media solicitor Mark Lewis was subject to “extreme provocation” on Twitter, but the tweets he sent in response did not live up to the profession’s standards, the SDT has ruled.
Solicitor “led judge to believe” she was a barrister
An experienced solicitor-advocate has been struck off for misleading a judge that she was a barrister and then misleading the solicitors on the other side who questioned her behaviour.
QC appointment reforms aim to help women apply
Changes to the QC appointment regime aimed to help women apply for silk are to be introduced for the 2019 round, the body in charge of the scheme has announced.
Start-up aims to help NFP sector identify legal nature of problems
An AI-backed product that uses natural language processing to help not-for-profit agencies identify precisely the legal nature of a problem is set to launch next year.
Solicitor fails in bid to set aside £700k HMRC statutory demand
A solicitor has failed in his effort to set aside a £717,000 statutory demand arising from a guarantee he gave over money his firm owed HM Revenue & Customs.
Solicitor struck off after trying to influence medical expert
A personal injury solicitor who “improperly attempted” to influence a doctor by turning up to a medical examination of his client in the role of translator has been struck off.
Partner leaves law firm to lead own software company
A partner who set up both a commercial law firm and a HR software company has sold his stake in the legal practice to take charge of the software business.
SRA slices £6m off budget while missing performance targets
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s budget is to fall 7% – or £6m – in the next year, against the background of failing to meet two of its three performance targets.
