Lawyers in hot water over tax troubles
A solicitor in debt to HM Revenue & Customs who supplied legal services without complying with a condition that he had first to give the taxman security for the VAT, has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Solicitor who forged bank statements and QC’s opinion struck off
A solicitor has been struck off after taking hundreds of thousands of pounds in client money and covering his tracks by forging a host of documents – from bank statements to building regulations certificates – and also falsifying leading counsel’s opinion.
Gibraltar-based law firm launches ABS and eyes external investment
An international finance and technology law practice involved in the online gaming and electronic payments industries, has become an alternative business structure to help its plans to grow as a group and set up offices across the European Union.
Rebukes for solicitors who used legal aid cash to cover their overheads
Three solicitors who used legal aid money meant to pay for disbursements to cover their firm’s overheads have been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Meanwhile, the regulator has made orders against non-solicitors who stole money and stationery from their firms.
Slater & Gordon bullish over progress in UK
Slater & Gordon’s leadership remains “convinced of the strategic merit” of taking on the UK consumer legal services market, its chief executive said yesterday as he revealed that it has had an encouraging start to the current financial year – although this was in part because of the jobs that have been cut in recent months.
Retired solicitor investor network poised to help lawtech start-ups
An ‘angel investor’ network is being constructed that promises to match ex-City partners with lawtech start-ups, to help them gain a foothold in large law firms with advice, contacts, and seed capital. The favoured model would see two investors each invest £50,000 in exchange for around 10% of the equity
Suspension and public access ban for ‘named and shamed’ barrister
The first and only lawyer to be ‘named and shamed’ by the Legal Ombudsman has been suspended from practice at the Bar for 14 months. Tariq Rehman was also prohibited from accepting or carrying out public access instructions for three years.
Employed barristers call for greater recognition of their abilities
The majority at the employed Bar “do not feel supported or that their work is recognised”, both by the self-employed Bar and the Bar Council, research released yesterday by the latter has found. It said employed barristers enjoyed financial security, with average salaries around the £70,000 mark.
Paralegal law firm launches ABS targeting high street
A “specialist paralegal law firm” has launched an alternative business structure that hopes to become a full service high street law practice. Having an ABS will enable the firm to undertake reserved work such as signing off the deed for family trusts and deeds of variation, and applying to the court for grants of probate.
Client-care letters “failing” consumers, research finds
Many client-care letters get the lawyer/client relationship off on the wrong foot, reinforcing preconceptions of lawyers’ letters as complex and difficult to read, and not providing the information that consumers actually want, new research has found.
