Leigh Day to face 19 charges over conduct in Iraq abuse inquiry
The full scale of the allegations of misconduct against law firm Leigh Day, senior partner Martyn Day and partner Sapna Malik were published on Friday, including claims that they had made allegations over the British Army’s conduct in Iraq when it was “improper” to do so.
Immigration barristers attack “poor standards” of solicitors
Chambers carrying out immigration work have voiced a “unanimous and strong opinion” that they “repeatedly experience poor standards of service from solicitors”, a Bar Standards Board report has found. Complaints included “delays and outright failure” to pay barristers.
Two more firms fined for SDLT avoidance schemes involvement
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has fined two more law firms for advising on conveyancing transactions in which clients were party to schemes to avoid the payment of almost £8m in stamp duty land tax – for which the firms received £160,000 between them on top of their regular fees.
ABS update: Online boost, Gateley income up, non-lawyers on the rise and government asked to authorise BSB
Alternative business structures are three times more likely than regular firms to offer “novel online solutions for clients wishing to access their services”, according to the Council for Licensed Conveyancers as we round up ABS news from up and down the country.
Consumer panel: call in paralegals to meet demand for family advice
Law firms should offer “paralegal services” to cut the cost of advice on family matters, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has suggested. In a report for the Legal Services Board, the panel also called for greater use of unbundling and fixed fees.
High Court rejects Barnett’s appeal against strike-off
The High Court has rejected an appeal by Richard Barnett, senior partner of collapsed conveyancing firm Barnetts, against his striking-off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Mr Barnett, a former Law Society council member, had earlier failed in a bid to use costs he had paid to the SRA to fund an advocate.
OECD urges competition bodies to help open up legal markets to disruptive innovators
Regulation of lawyers across the developed world is under pressure from technological and other disruptions, and national competition authorities should seize the opportunity to guarantee market access for new entrants, the OECD has advised.
Sole practitioner struck off for “masterclass in failure to comply”
A sole practitioner has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for a “catalogue of proven breaches” of the rules which “amounted to a masterclass in failure to comply with the basic requirements of practice as a solicitor”.
Barristers unhappy with BSB warning on commercial pressures
Barristers have complained that the decision of their regulator to make public the risk of commercial pressures damaging the Bar could on its own have a negative impact on the profession’s reputation. There are also reports of “growing anxiety” among young barrister about chambers being run as corporate organisations.
Unregulated firm calls in unregistered barristers to help SMEs
A new unregulated law firm is using unregistered barristers to offer small businesses “unlimited legal advice” for as little as £49.50 per month. Philip Harmer, founder of LawPlan, said the business “set out to give value, which seems like an impossibility in the legal world”.
