Sanctions for trainee who misled clients and the court over progress of litigation
A trainee solicitor who misled clients that their claims were being progressed when they had actually been struck out, and also sought to mislead the court, has accepted a rebuke and £1,000 fine to avoid a referral to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Conveyancers “failing to differentiate themselves from competitors”, mystery shop finds
Law firms are missing a key opportunity to differentiate themselves against online providers of residential conveyancing because they fail to deal with telephone enquiries properly, a report that includes three years of research in has found.
SRA review of “successful” personal injury sector to clean out bad practices
The personal injury sector has been a “huge success story”, the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s executive director of strategic planning and performance has said, but the regulator wants to weed out the bad conduct that exists from claimant and defendant lawyers alike.
High Court rejects solicitor’s bid to judicially review Bar Standards Board
A solicitor who made multiple complaints against two barristers who acted for the claimant in litigation in which he was a defendant, has failed in an application to judicially review the Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) decision to dismiss the complaints.
Exclusive: James Caan exits law firm investment
Leading investor James Caan has sold his stake in Staffordshire-based law firm Knights Professional Services, Legal Futures can reveal. Mr Caan invested in Knights in 2012, since when the firm has grown its turnover from £8m to £40m and added complementary services to its core legal offering.
Third time unlucky before the SDT as criminal law solicitor is suspended
An experienced criminal lawyer has been suspended for five years by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal after twice being fined for previous accounts rule breaches. The tribunal said the misconduct was due to the solicitor “placing his head in the sand and due to his ineptitude and unacceptable practice”.
Solicitors allowed to practise from unregulated firms “could face pressure to compromise professional obligations”
Solicitors could “come under pressure to compromise their professional obligations” if they are allowed to operate from unregulated firms where they are outnumbered, according to the author of the first academic study of compliance officers for legal practice.
Sanctions for barrister who turned up in court “drunk” and another who dodged fares
A barrister is to be reprimanded by the head of his circuit after turning up to court under the influence of alcohol and then leaving before a hearing had finished. Meanwhile, a separate tribunal has disbarred a barrister who was convicted of evading rail fares in and out of Marylebone Station in London.
Battle of the “bulge” – Legal Ombudsman’s performance worsens
The time taken by the Legal Ombudsman to resolve cases increased over the summer, new figures have shown. The proportion of cases resolved within 90 days fell from 50% in June this year to 47% in July – against a target of 60%. This was caused by a “bulge” in cases being assessed.
Creating a ‘two-tier profession’ – Consumer panel joins opposition to SRA plan
The Legal Services Consumer Panel and the Legal Ombudsman are the latest organisations to come out against the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s proposal that practising solicitors be allowed to handle unreserved legal work for the public from unregulated firms.
