Compliance & Regulation
High Court: SRA does not have power to view privileged material
The SRA does not have the right to require the production of privileged documents from law firms without a waiver from the client, the High Court has ruled today.
Jail for barrister who conspired with client to injure attacker
The criminal defence barrister who helped a gangster trace a gunman who tried to assassinate him has been jailed for three years and three months.
Second suspension for dual-qualified lawyer who ignored conflicts
A dual-qualified solicitor and barrister has been suspended for nine months by a Bar disciplinary tribunal in the wake of a six-month suspension by the SDT.
Law Society urges “targeted risk” model for COLP/COFA reform
The Law Society has put forward a “targeted risk” model as an alternative to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s changes to the rules around COLPs and COFAs.
FCA adds ban to SRA’s £4m fine for collapsed law firm’s owner
The Financial Conduct Authority has banned the former owner of collapsed law firm Kingly Solicitors from working in financial services.
SDT upholds ban on police station rep with harassment conviction
The SDT has upheld a decision by the SRA to ban a police station representative convicted of a harassment offence from working for law firms.
“Alarmingly incompetent” barrister suspended over closing speech
A barrister who made improper and inaccurate submissions during his closing speech in the Crown Court has been suspended for his “alarmingly incompetent” behaviour.
SRA gives SQE1 candidates extra six seconds per question
There are to be fewer questions in the SQE, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has announced – giving candidates an extra six seconds per question.
“We’re listening” insists SRA amid more questions over COLP/COFA reform
A group of conveyancers has thrown its weight behind calls for the SRA to set out the evidence justifying its changes to the COLP/COFA rules.
SRA “adding to confusion” around COLP/COFA changes
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is only adding to the confusion as it changes the rules on who can be compliance officers, its former head of legal has said.
Solicitor fined £20k but avoids SDT for multiple rule breaches
A solicitor responsible for multiple rule breaches – including a shortage in client account – has been fined £20,150 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
FCA to start taking on AML oversight from 2028
The Financial Conduct Authority expects to start overseeing the anti-money laundering efforts of some lawyers “before the end of 2028”, the government has said.
Small firms join forces to step up compliance officer campaign
Small and medium-sized law firms opposed to rule changes on who can hold compliance officer rules have banded together to lobby both the SRA and Law Society.
Sham marriages solicitor fails in bid to return to profession
A solicitor struck off in 2019 after being recorded by an undercover reporter advising on a sham marriage has failed in a bid to return to the profession.
Veteran solicitor let hand-written accounts fall into chaos
A veteran solicitor who let his firm’s accounts fall into chaos, causing the SRA Compensation Fund to pay out £400,000 to his former clients, has been suspended from practice.
Blog
Legal Ombudsman fee reforms risk widening the justice gap
Charging firms simply because a complaint moves through the process weakens the present connection between fees and fault. It could also encourage firms to settle for commercial reasons.
Why upfront information could transform home buying
The success of upfront property information will depend on more than simply making the information available.
AI risk: What law firms must now demand from vendors
AI systems ingest, transform, infer and generate. Treating them as equivalent to document storage or workflow tools is a category error.
Reports
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