Compliance & Regulation
Solicitor rebuked for continuing to act when clients were in dispute
A solicitor who continued to act for both executors of an estate after a dispute arose between them has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Just desserts for incompetent and dishonest solicitor who misled SRA
A solicitor who misled his regulator during an investigation into his “manifestly incompetent conduct” has been struck off.
Solicitor fails in appeal against conviction for ‘tipping off’ client
The first solicitor prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office for ‘tipping off’ a client about a money laundering investigation has failed in his appeal against conviction.
Big spike in conveyancing complaints to Legal Ombudsman
The Legal Ombudsman has reported a 41% increase in the number of complaints about conveyancing, driven by delays, poor communication and post-completion problems.
Mazur review: Regulators seek to move on but LSB criticised
Legal regulators have accepted the Legal Services Board’s finding that they missed opportunities to address the issues that came to a head in the Mazur case.
LSB catalogues missed opportunities to avoid Mazur
Legal regulators missed opportunities over the years to “clarify and address” the issues that came to a head in the Mazur case, the Legal Services Board said yesterday.
Ban for prospective trainee who faked client’s signature
A prospective trainee solicitor who forged a client’s signature on a document sent to the Home Office and faked an email to mislead her firm has been barred from the profession.
Profession to pay out £39m to Axiom Ince clients
The collapse of Axiom Ince is set to cost the solicitors’ profession £39m in payouts from the SRA Compensation Fund, most of which have now been made, it has emerged.
Judge refers barrister to BSB and ‘legal consultant’ for contempt
The High Court has referred a barrister and his chambers to the Bar Standards Board over their involvement in litigation run by a legal consultant it employs.
Solicitor struck off for unauthorised work on cannabis case
A consultant solicitor who carried out unauthorised work for a man facing serious drug offences, and then asked to be paid in cash, has been struck off.
Solicitor struck off for “alarming” email and stalking conviction
A non-practising solicitor who sent a misleading email “designed to influence and alarm” the two sons of a mentally ill woman has been struck off.
Veteran solicitor’s “jokes” inappropriate but not misconduct
A duty solicitor in his 80s who was banned from Coventry Police Station after making eccentric comments to two young female officers has been cleared of misconduct.
CA condemns sting that saw solicitor disclose privileged information
The Court of Appeal has strongly condemned ‘privilege hunting’ – illicit methods to obtain information from litigation opponents – in a case where a law firm partner was successfully duped.
Law firm in dock for running cases using “fraudulent” documents
A judge has expressed deep concern about how an East London law firm has run immigration cases, with multiple clients relying on materially similar documents.
Law firms face enforcement action over misleading claims ads
The FCA has spotted 170 misleading car finance adverts as part of the on-going campaign against “poor practices” by CMCs and law firms.
Blog
Is your Google Ads budget funding your competitors’ AI visibility?
If your cost-per-click has crept up again this year, you’ve probably assumed the market simply got more expensive. That’s the wrong way to read what’s happening.
Containing the spread of unapproved AI
Nearly 60% of fee-earners admit to using unapproved tools (like free versions of ChatGPT). Yet 68% of firm leaders are confident there is zero risk of unapproved AI being used for client work.
When AI adoption goes wrong, costs add up fast
City AM recently reported that London is fighting to claim the title of ‘global capital of legal AI’. However, it’s crucial we remember that adoption alone does not create value.
