LSB reveals “stream of disagreements” as it begins review of regulatory independence rules
A “steady stream of disagreements” between legal regulators and representative bodies means the rules governing their relationships may need to be rewritten, the Legal Services Board said yesterday. The oversight regulator said it had been notified of 30 disputes over the past three years.
Solicitor who made client agree not to complain to the authorities suspended
A solicitor who was “over his head” in running his own firm, and used a settlement with a vulnerable client to prevent them complaining to the Solicitors Regulation Authority or Legal Ombudsman, has been suspended from practice. He was also found guilty of a number of other breaches.
Munby sets aside divorce petitions because of fraud by disbarred barrister
The president of the Family Division has set aside 21 fraudulent divorce petitions produced by a disbarred barrister. Sir James Munby found that, in each case, the underlying proceedings were “tainted by deception”. The applications were made by the Queen’s Proctor – an official of the Crown able to intervene in divorce and probate cases.
Next Chief Legal Ombudsman unveiled
The Legal Ombudsman has appointed Rebecca Marsh as its new Chief Ombudsman. Ms Marsh is currently the executive director of operations and investigations, as well as deputy ombudsman, at the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
US law firm handed record fine over solicitor’s involvement in dubious investment schemes
A US law firm has received the largest ever fine handed out by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and also become the first firm to be found to have lacked integrity in its conduct. The tribunal has approved an agreement between Locke Lord and the Solicitors Regulation Authority that means there will not be a hearing.
Solicitor’s plea to stay in profession after fraud conviction falls on deaf ears
A tribunal has rejected a solicitor’s plea not to strike him off so he could rebuild his life after being convicted of taking £100,000 from people who thought they were investing in vintage wines. Meanwhile, another tribunal has struck off a solicitor convicted of two counts of making an indecent photograph or ‘pseudo-photograph’ of a child.
Solicitors accuse police support company of acting as law firm
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is investigating allegations made by a south-west law firm that a company employed by a large number of police forces to assist with road traffic prosecutions has been carrying out reserved activities without authorisation.
Policeman jailed for selling crash data to claims firm – which were sold on to law firms
Two married constables working for Lancashire Police were sentenced last month for stealing police data about car crashes and selling it to claims firms for £363,000. An investigation was launched after people complained they were getting calls from law firms when they had not given their details to anyone other than the police.
Keoghs launches AI product that will cut insurer clients’ legal costs
Leading defendant law firm Keoghs has launched an artificial intelligence (AI) driven service that cuts legal costs for insurer clients by enabling them to handle work that is currently done by its lawyers. Its “AI lawyer”, called Lauri, is initially for what are called “avoidable litigation” cases – generally standard, low-value claims.
Tribunal orders law firm to disclose advice after finding client waived privilege in appeal papers
A law firm has been ordered to reveal to the tax man aspects of the advice it gave to a client after a tribunal found that the client had waived privilege in its grounds to bring an appeal out of time. However, to ensure that advice irrelevant to the issue at hand was not disclosed, the tribunal said it would review all redactions considered appropriate by the firm.
