LSB bids to allay MPs’ concerns after rejecting their plea to hold back on SQE decision
The interim chair of the Legal Services Board has explained to MPs on the justice select committee why the oversight regulator rejected their plea to postpone a decision on the Solicitors Qualifying Examination. The committee called on the board to defer its decision for six months.
Barrister not to blame for repeat offender’s heroin conviction, Court of Appeal rules
A criminal silk was not to blame for a man being convicted of importing and supplying large quantities of heroin, the Court of Appeal has decided. Attique Sami argued that “no competent counsel” would have called a witness who gave “highly damaging evidence” against him involving 230kg of heroin with a street value of over £37m.
Government to introduce fixed costs for holiday sickness claims “in coming weeks”
The Ministry of Justice has met its timetable to introduce fixed recoverable costs for holiday sickness claims, announcing today that they will come into effect “in the coming weeks” and before the summer holiday season. It also for the first time put concrete figures to the widely quoted statistic that sickness claims have increased by 500% in recent years.
SRA unveils new rules for waivers and ‘safe space’ to promote innovation
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to simplify its system for granting waivers to regulations in order to promote innovation. It is also formalising its ‘innovation space’, which it describes as a “safe space” which allows firms with novel ideas that may push the boundaries of the current rules to test them in a controlled way.
Only more complex cases are reaching us, says Legal Ombudsman as it hikes budget
Lawyers are getting better at handling complaints, meaning that those reaching the Legal Ombudsman are becoming more complex and costly, the organisation said last week in part justification for an increase in its budget for the second year running.
High Court rejects disbarred barrister’s appeal against refusal to readmit him to Gray’s Inn
A disbarred barrister whose bid to rejoin Gray’s Inn and starting practising again after 15 years was refused has lost an appeal to the High Court. An inns’ conduct committee said there was insufficient evidence to rebut the inference that he would reoffend, and a BSB review panel upheld this ruling, which the barrister then appealed.
New BSB-regulated firm targets young barristers and solicitors
A new law firm regulated by the Bar Standards Board aims to attract young barristers and solicitors interested in working together. Black Antelope Law is made up of two barristers, both of whom work on a direct access basis, and two solicitors. The lawyers work partly from home.
Chambers could be forced to publish data on sexual orientation and religion
The Bar Standards Board is considering a rule change which would mean chambers would have to include sexual orientation and religion in the diversity data they publish on their websites. It said the move might help sets of chambers attract a more diverse workforce, but there could be “security implications” for those with high numbers of barristers who were of LGBT+ or from a particular religion.
Making conveyancing ‘easy’ – Sir Stelios enters legal market
The founder of easyJet has entered the legal world today with the launch of easyConveyance, a conveyancing comparison tool. Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou said it was “time for the home buying process to be brought into the 21st century”.
CMCs warned over “misleading headlines” in clickbait advertisements as directors are banned
Claims management companies have been warned by their regulator not to use “misleading headlines” or “sensational language” in clickbait-style advertisements. Meanwhile, two directors of CMCs that made misleading sales calls and took unauthorised payments, have been disqualified by the High Court.
