“Business as usual” is not an option if you want to survive and thrive, Law Society tells solicitors
Business as usual “is not an option for many, if indeed any, traditional legal service providers”, the Law Society has warned today in a major report on what the legal market may look like in 2020. It said that the opportunities for solicitors in the coming years “cannot be distinguished from the opportunities for other types of lawyer, or non-lawyer-owned businesses”.
Firm propped up by loan from employee “did not mislead” SRA over financial difficulties
A law firm owner did not mislead the Solicitors Regulation Authority over the financial difficulties his practice was facing, even though he was reliant on loans from a senior solicitor to keep it afloat, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has ruled.
FCA asks whether senior in-house lawyers need its approval
The Financial Conduct Authority is to consult on whether general counsel and other in-house lawyers in banks, building societies and credit unions fall within its new accountability regime for senior managers. The FCA said some general counsel were concerned about being forced to disclose privileged information.
SDT has mercy on “immature” solicitor who lied about law degree to secure job interview
A solicitor who described her behaviour as “immature, foolish and wrong” in lying to a potential employer has been suspended by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. She upgraded her law degree from 2:2 to 2:1 in order to get an interview with the Army Legal Services.
Devon will writer to bring Canadian lawyer referral service to UK
The chief executive of a Devon private client firm is bringing a leading Canadian lawyer referral service to the UK this spring. The UK version of LawyerLocate will operate on “exactly the same model” as the Canadian – which became Google’s first Canadian legal industry partner last year.
Solicitor agrees to leave profession over rule breaches
A solicitor who was unaware of what he should do after he failed to secure professional indemnity insurance has agreed to remove himself from the profession. Despite similar cases having gone to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal of late, he reached a regulatory settlement agreement with the SRA.
Dyson condemns “desperate” MoJ over enhanced court fees
Lord Dyson has launched an extraordinary attack on the Ministry of Justice over the introduction of enhanced court fees. The Master of the Rolls described the research carried out by the MoJ as “hopeless”.
High Court: Wrong to assume it is “more improbable” that professionals will be dishonest
It would be wrong to assume that it is “inherently more improbable” that a professional person will be dishonest than anyone else, the High Court has said. In his ruling, HHJ Saffman said the sole practitioner involved had misrepresented “the true position” in an attendance note.
Judges should be able to decline ‘unfair’ QASA evaluations, SRA says
Judges should be able to opt out of assessing advocates under the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates if they believe it would be unfair, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has said. Despite a Supreme Court ruling in its favour last year, QASA is still to get off the ground.
Solicitor who made “conscious choice to prop up her practice with client funds” is struck off
A sole practitioner who made a “conscious choice to prop up her practice with client funds” has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Harvinder McKibbin told the tribunal that “as a true sole practitioner, matters had become a bit too much being on my own with no support”.
