Solicitors
Trainee who forged client’s signature banned from profession
A trainee solicitor who forged a client’s signature in a bid to pass off a copy share certificate as the original has been banned from working in the profession without the permission of the SRA.
Solicitor “brass-plated” the practices of others
A solicitor who “brass-plated” the practices of other solicitors and did little to supervise them has been struck off, after one misappropriated £140,000 of client money. He also paid unlawful referral fees.
Controversial client protection rules for freelance solicitors approved
The Legal Services Board has approved client protection arrangements to back the new breed of freelance solicitors, despite opposition from the Law Society and Legal Services Consumer Panel.
Law Society and SRA budgets rise but cost of practising to fall
The costs of practising for solicitors is set to fall this year even though both the Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority’s budgets are on the rise.
Immigration lawyers sanctioned for ‘totally without merit’ JRs
Two immigration lawyers who clocked up 14 judicial review applications in a single year found to be totally without merit have been fined and made subject to conditions on their future practice.
Charity pours scorn on quality of immigration detainees’ advice
Legal representation for immigration detainees is poor, including the quality of advice given by solicitors, according to a charity that challenges detention in removal centres and prisons.
Criminal lawyer was “duped by fraudster” over football club deal
A criminal law solicitor who “appeared to have been duped by a convicted fraudster” has been fined for letters he produced to give comfort to potential business partners.
Law Society’s defence of NDA guidance draws heavy fire
The Law Society’s defence of its practice note on non-disclosure agreements has not silenced its critics, with the leading academic in the field accusing Chancery Lane of “putting PR before principles”.
Solicitor hit with £500k POCA fine for using house as office
A West London solicitor has hit with a £500,000 confiscation order for repeatedly disregarding warnings from his local council to stop using a terraced home as an office for his firm.
Law lecturers “free to embrace diversity”, says academic
Academics who decline to pursue diversity in their teaching wrongly think that the content of curriculums for qualifying law degrees is detailed by legal regulators, a leading academic has suggested.
Consumers see technology as key to unlocking access to law
A majority of people in England and Wales think the legal system is not set up for ordinary people, with only half seeking advice from a lawyer when faced with a legal problem, new research has found.
Probate solicitor took money from estates to keep firm afloat
A probate solicitor took money from the estates to shore up his practice over eight years and produced false accounts to clients to hide what he had done, it has emerged.
Rebuke for solicitor who made offensive comment to blind client
An experienced partner has been rebuked for making an offensive comment to a registered blind client in front of others after she asked for a form to be enlarged so that she could read it.
Number of law firms shut down falls to 10-year low
The number of law firms shut down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority fell to a 10-year low in 2018, but payouts to victims of dishonest solicitors have increased, new figures have shown.
Green light for new regime on when to report rule breaches
New requirements for reporting rule breaches to the Solicitors Regulation Authority have been approved by the Legal Services Board. The changes include a new ‘early investigation’ rule.
Blog
The AI revolution: practice excellence is about to reach a new level
The crux of all conversations with law firms has been: “how can generative AI support greater practice and client service without compromising security?”
TikTok or TikNot: Is social media working for you?
The average law firm spends around a quarter of its marketing budget on social media but sees little in return, our research found.
Tomorrow’s legal landscape: helping firms prepare for change
Law firms must constantly question the status quo and be willing to adapt. Take nothing for granted. Never say ‘we’ve always done it this way’; never say ‘we’re lawyers and we’re different’.
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