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.
PI Futures: government reforms may have been delayed but “they’re coming”
The personal injury reforms (PI) first announced 10 months ago are still coming, despite the Brexit hiatus – so claimant lawyers have to be prepared, they were told at last week’s PI Futures conference in Liverpool. The default assumption had to be that change would happen.
Legal Services Board fury after IBA claims it is under “government control”
The Legal Services Board has reacted angrily to a draft report from the International Bar Association which said the oversight regulator was subject to “a degree of government control”, because “the LSB is funded by the Ministry of Justice, and all its members are appointed by the Lord Chancellor”.
SDT slams regulator for “shambolic” handling of banking facility case
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has slapped down the Solicitors Regulation Authority for its conduct in a disciplinary case involving alleged money laundering, describing it as having “verged on the shambolic” and dismissing five out of the seven charges laid.
Co-op Legal Services recovery continues with growth in sales and profit
Profit is continuing to rise at Co-operative Legal Services (CLS), half-year results published today have revealed. In the first six months of 2016, sales rose 10% to £11m, and it made a £1m profit – having broken even during the same period of 2015.
Criminal Bar urges government action to stamp out solicitors’ “corrupt practices”
Criminal defence work is still beset by the “corrupt practices” of a minority of solicitors, as well as law firms sending incompetent in-house advocates to court – instead of instructing counsel – because of the financial benefits, the chairman of the Criminal Bar Association has claimed.
