Tribunal lays out Clyde & Co’s “glaring” failures – Legal Futures

‘The failures which led to a record fine for Clyde & Co were “particularly glaring” as it was “a large and, previously, reputable firm”, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has declared in approving the sanction.’

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Legal Futures, 19th April 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Fine for senior partner who “accidentally” discriminated against colleague on grounds of age and religion – Legal Futures

‘A senior partner who was found by an employment tribunal to have discriminated against, harassed and victimised a former equity partner at his firm, has been fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), which found his culpability to be “low” as his behaviour had “just crossed the line into discrimination”.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd April 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Supreme Court backs insurer’s bid to cap liability for multiple claims against law firm – Legal Futures

‘The Supreme Court has sided with a leading professional indemnity insurer in interpreting the rules that govern the way insurers can aggregate multiple claims against solicitors.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd March 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA decision to hold board meetings in private “may breach Legal Services Act” – Legal Futures

‘The decision by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to close its meetings to public and press scrutiny appears to be contrary to its obligations under the Legal Services Act 2007 (LSA), a leading regulatory solicitor has said.’

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Legal Futures, 13th March 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.com

Legal Services Board launches probe into whether Law Society fetters SRA’s independence – Legal Futures

‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has stepped up the pressure on the Law Society’s role as the approved regulator of solicitors by announcing a formal investigation into whether the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has sufficient independence.’

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Legal Futures, 17th February 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New CPD rules: how to implement them in your practice – The Future of Law

‘What is the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) new mandatory regime on continuing professional development (CPD) for solicitors? Nicola Jones, co-founder and director of Athena Professional and a learning for performance consultant, takes a look at the new rules and provides guidance on how firms can implement them into their practices.’

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The Future of Law, 16th February 2017

Source: www.blogs.lexisnexis.co.uk

Publishing prices: SRA to start with divorce, wills, conveyancing and simple SME work – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is planning to require law firms to publish their fees for services such as divorce, wills or conveyancing, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 26th January 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law lecturers flay SQE plan for creating “inferior solicitors” – Legal Futures

Posted January 20th, 2017 in legal education, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The Bar will “truly be able to say that barristers are better educated in the law than solicitors” if the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) presses ahead with its reform of education, law lecturers have said in an excoriating response to the regulator’s consultation.’

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Legal Futures, 20th January 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Farmer dumps muck outside court in protest at justice system – Daily Telegraph,

Posted January 18th, 2017 in criminal damage, demonstrations, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘A wealthy farmer dumped a lorry load of muck outside a crown court on Tuesday in protest at the “severely flawed” justice system which he claimed left him thousands of pounds out of pocket.’

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Daily Telegraph, 17th January 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Disciplinary round-up: fine for firm which failed to make client’s visa application and then lost his passport – Legal Futures

‘A north London law firm has been rebuked for misleading its client into thinking that it had made a visa application on his behalf.’

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Legal Futures, 13th January 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court of Appeal to refer City law firm to SRA and DPP after revoking £500,000 costs order – Legal Futures

‘The criminal division of the Court of Appeal has taken the unusual step of announcing its intention to refer a City law firm to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.’

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Legal Futures, 11th January 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA ordered to disclose report into law firm investigation – Legal Futures

‘The Law Society’s freedom of information adjudicator has ordered the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to disclose an investigator’s report, saying the regulator had overlooked “the public interest in transparency as a good in itself”.’

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Legal Futures, 5th January 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Iraq War: Lawyer admits misconduct over Army abuse claims – BBC News

‘A human rights lawyer who brought murder and torture claims against UK troops has admitted misconduct charges.’

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BBC News, 8th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar’s entity regulation “better and cheaper”, claims solicitor – Legal Futures

‘Bar Standards Board (BSB) entity regulation is “significantly cheaper and simpler” for sole practitioners and better for clients, according to a solicitor whose start-up law firm is to be regulated by the BSB.’

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Legal Futures, 29th November 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court: Time to consider lowering burden of proof in the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal – Legal Futures

‘It is time to consider lowering the burden of proof used by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) from the criminal to the civil standard, Sir Brian Leveson, the president of the Queen’s Bench Division has said.’

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Legal Futures, 11th November 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor accepts rebuke for involvement in £2m SDLT schemes – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor involved in conveyancing transactions that resulted in the non-payment of £2m in stamp duty land tax (SDLT) has accepted a rebuke from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 24th October 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

PI cold-calling ban will stay in place, says SRA, as Law Society steps up attack on Handbook rewrite – Legal Futures

‘Fears that the rewritten SRA Handbook might not continue the ban on law firms cold-calling potential personal injury clients have been allayed by the regulator.’

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Legal Futures, 20th September 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lawyers aghast at SRA plans to lift cold-calling ban – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Personal injury lawyers have warned that Solicitors Regulation Authority plans to remove a ban on cold calling will only encourage the shadier elements of the profession.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 15th September 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Nothing inherently riskier about ABS, says super regulator – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Restrictions on alternative business structure can be lifted now they have shown to be no greater risk than traditional law firms, the Legal Services Board has said.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 12th August 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judge orders SDT to try again after botched strike-out – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The High Court has ordered the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to rehear a prosecution against two solicitors suspected of dishonesty.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 29th July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk