Competition hots up with accountants set for rights to conduct litigation and advocacy work
Accountants are set to enjoy the right to handle litigation, advocacy and legal instruments in taxation work after the Legal Services Board approved an application by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Its recommendation will now go to the Lord Chancellor for approval, despite the opposition of the Lord Chief Justice.
Law Society and SRA give with one hand but take with other in practising fees reckoning
The practising certificate fee for solicitors is set to fall 4% this year, but the saving will be largely wiped out by an increase in contributions to bolster the Solicitors Compensation Fund ahead of an expected rise in claims arising from their involvement in fraudulent investment schemes.
Solicitor who took client data to new firm without consent rebuked and fined
A London solicitor who took confidential information from defunct London firm Davenport Lyons to his new employer without client consent has been rebuked and fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The regulatory settlement agreement means he will not have to face a disciplinary tribunal.
Passed on Thursday, in force today – new AML regulations thrust on profession
Law firm compliance officers and money laundering reporting officers have been scrambling to get to grips with the biggest shake-up in anti-money laundering rules in a decade, with the final regulations – which were only published on Thursday – coming into force today.
Plan for 28-month Online Court pilot emerges as MR foresees live-streaming Court of Appeal
A 28-month pilot of the Online Court is to start next month, with HM Courts and Tribunal Service providing face-to-face assistance to the half of people signed up to it who are expected to need help with filling in forms. Meanwhile, the Master of the Rolls has suggested that physical hearings may become capable of live streaming, particularly in the Court of Appeal.
Now SRA shuts down Asons’ successor firm
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has today shut down Bolton firm Coops Law, less than three months since it took over the practice of controversial practice Asons, which was also closed down by the regulator.
Slipping through their fingers – mystery shopping shows law firms not following up enquiries
A ‘mystery shopping’ exercise to test law firms’ ability to communicate with customers has shown progress, yet the proportion of solicitors willing to follow up incoming calls from the public, although better than last year, was still “drastically low”.
AI technology “transformative but carries risks”, says Slaughters report
Company directors should consider the risks of using artificial intelligence technology so as to understand and manage their liability, according to a report by magic circle law firm Slaughter & May. AI was “the most transformative technology” of this century, it said. However, risks included AI being maliciously ‘re-purposed’.
High Court overturns dishonesty finding against solicitor due to “serious procedural irregularities”
The High Court has overturned a finding of dishonesty made by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal against a prominent solicitor because the allegation was not tested during the hearing. The case also saw the president of the Queen’s Bench Division, Sir Brian Leveson, insist that honesty and integrity are not synonymous.
Number of law firms closed down by SRA falls to 12-year low
The number of law firms closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority has fallen to its lowest point for more than a decade, as the impact of the 2008 crash finally recedes, figures released today have shown in an annual review that put into numbers the amount of work the regulator does.
