Solicitor “tried to get assault complainant to withdraw statement” – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor who tried to get someone he employed to persuade the alleged victim of a sexual assault to withdraw her statement has been struck off by a tribunal.’

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Legal Futures, 15th February 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lawyers investigated over Sir Philip Green’s gagging orders – Daily Telegraph

‘The regulator has begun an investigation into solicitors involved in gagging Sir Philip Green’s staff in a move which could result in sanctions including being struck off, the Telegraph can reveal. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is understood to be looking into the grievance procedure and subsequent non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) signed by at least one of Sir Philip’s previous employees who accused the billionaire of sexual harassment.’

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Daily Telegraph, 11th February 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

LSB rules “could stop Law Society from criticising SRA” – Legal Futures

‘The Law Society has said it is “deeply concerned” that new rules proposed by the Legal Services Board (LSB) could largely prevent it from either lobbying or criticising the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 24th January 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA pays Leigh Day £1m in costs to end disciplinary case – Legal Futures

‘The highly contentious Leigh Day disciplinary case has come to an end with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) paying the firm £1m in costs after the regulator’s unsuccessful appeal.’

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Legal Futures, 17th January 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA “not sufficiently transparent” in explaining decisions – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is “not sufficiently transparent” in explaining its decisions at board level, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 15th January 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor who ran unauthorised law firm struck off – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor who said his unauthorised firm was acting only for “family and friends” has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).’

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Legal Futures, 8th January 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firms “will stop using email within five years” – Legal Futures

‘Email will be replaced within five years by a more secure means of communication for law firms, an expert predicted this week.’

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Legal Futures, 13th December 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

What the Divisional Court’s decision in SRA v Sovani James tells us about wellbeing for lawyers: some reasons for optimism- 4 New Square

‘This week the Administrative Court handed down judgment in three appeals by the Solicitors Regulation Authority: SRA v Sovani James, SRA v Esteddar MacGregor, SRA v Peter Naylor [2018] EWHC 3058 (Admin). Reactions to the judgment by lawyers have been critical, regarding it as a harsh decision which missed an opportunity to reflect developing attitudes to wellbeing in the workplace.’

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4 New Square, 16th November 2018

Source: www.4newsquare.com

SRA v James: When “I was driven to it” is no defence – 4 New Square

‘It is well-known that if a solicitor is guilty of dishonesty in and about the work he or she does, they will be struck off unless they can show “exceptional circumstances”. For a while it was thought that extreme and intolerable work pressure giving rise to mental health issues, in turn giving rise to an act or acts of dishonesty, might suffice.’

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4 New Square, 13th November 2018

Source: www.4newsquare.com

SRA: Law firms must be able to explain decisions made by AI – Legal Futures

Posted December 11th, 2018 in artificial intelligence, law firms, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘Law firms must be able to explain “automated decisions”, including those involving artificial intelligence (AI), the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 11th December 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SQE does “violence to law” as academic discipline – Legal Futures

Posted December 11th, 2018 in legal education, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) does “significant violence to law as an academic discipline and to our colleagues and students”, law lecturers have argued.’

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Legal Futures, 11th December 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA in reminder on litigation obligations, warns against being ‘hired gun’ – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued a reminder to solicitors to adhere to all their professional obligations when engaged in litigation, “and not to become ‘hired guns’ just carrying out instructions that are in the best interests of clients”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 27th November 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Solicitors warned about acting as ‘hired guns’ for dubious clients – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Regulators have vowed to take action against any solicitor found to have neglected their wider obligations simply to keep a client happy.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th November 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

SRA seeks protection over transgender disclosures – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is pushing for protection for staff from criminal sanctions for disclosing information relating to transgender solicitors and other law firm staff.’

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Legal Futures, 20th November 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA urged to tackle mental health problems with ‘fitness to practise’ regime – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) needs to activate a dormant power that allows it to introduce ‘fitness to practise’ rules, in the wake of yesterday’s ruling about the role of mental health in solicitors’ misconduct, regulatory experts have argued.’

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Legal Futures, 14th November 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA loses appeal over failed Leigh Day mega-prosecution – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has dismissed an appeal by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) against a disciplinary tribunal’s decision to clear Martyn Day, two of his colleagues and his firm Leigh Day over their conduct of the Al-Sweady case.’

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Legal Futures, 19th October 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA prosecutes solicitor for second time over same case – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is taking the unusual step of prosecuting a solicitor for the second time over the same issue.’

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Legal Futures, 19th October 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA wins right to recover £800,000 costs from Blavo – Legal Futures

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to try and recover the £800,000 it spent intervening in collapsed law firm Blavo & Co.’

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Legal Futures, 17th October 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Government and SRA work to build BAME trust in solicitors – Legal Futures

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is working with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to build greater trust in solicitors among black and minority ethnic (BAME) people in custody.’

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Legal Futures, 11th October 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm closures up again after surge in rule breaches – Legal Futures

‘The number of law firms closed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) rose by 35% last year to 50, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 15th August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk