Category: Solicitors Regulation Authority

Will scrapping the CPD requirement reduce the quality of lawyers? – The Futures of Law

Posted October 23rd, 2014 in continuing professional development, legal profession, news, quality assurance, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has pledged to scrap its requirement for solicitors to complete 16 hours of continuing professional development (CPD), describing its existing system as little more than a “box ticking” exercise. The SRA believes revoking the current system will provide greater flexibility, but Nicholas Lakeland, partner and head of the employment and pensions team at Silverman Sherliker LLP, fears it may well lead to a real reduction in training.’

Full story

The Future of Law, 22nd October 2014

Source: www.blogs.lexisnexis.co.uk

Winehouse row coroner sanctioned by SRA – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 8th, 2014 in coroners, employment, inquests, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The coroner whose improper appointment of his wife led to the inquest into the death of singer Amy Winehouse being reheard has been sanctioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 7th October 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

SRA fines firm £2,000 for £2.5m stamp duty avoidance schemes – Legal Futures

Posted October 3rd, 2014 in fines, law firms, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority, stamp duty, tax avoidance by tracey

‘Leading Surrey firm Mundays has been fined £2,000 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for using stamp duty land tax (SDLT) avoidance schemes which saved clients over £2.5m.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 3rd October 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Accountant’s reports safe from public exposure after FoI ruling – Legal Futures

Posted August 20th, 2014 in accountants, disclosure, documents, freedom of information, Law Society, news, public interest, Solicitors Regulation Authority by tracey

‘The Law Society’s freedom of information adjudicator has rejected a bid to open up public access to accountant’s reports submitted to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 20th August 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitors Regulation Authority names first non-lawyer chair – Legal Futures

Posted June 25th, 2014 in consumer protection, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘Enid Rowlands, an existing member of the board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), has been named as its first non-lawyer chair.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 24th June 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitors Regulation Authority ‘not racist’ but black solicitors treated harshly – The Independent

Posted March 17th, 2014 in disciplinary procedures, minorities, news, race discrimination, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by tracey

‘The body that investigates solicitors has been cleared of institutional racism despite an independent inquiry concluding that it disproportionately pursues black and minority ethnic (BME) lawyers for alleged wrongdoing.’

Full story

The Independent, 14th March 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Flawed SRA investigation leads tribunal to strike out case – Legal Futures

Posted March 14th, 2014 in disciplinary procedures, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority, striking out by tracey

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has taken the unusual step of striking out a case against two solicitors in the middle of the hearing, after the integrity of the investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) was thrown into question.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 14th March 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Regulators reject plans for a legal education training council – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 22nd, 2013 in legal education, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority by tracey

“Regulators have rejected plans for a legal education council as a ‘distracting talking shop’. The council was proposed in the report of the Legal Education and Training Review in June.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 21st October 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

LSB sparks fresh independence row with call for regulators to have lay chairs – Legal Futures

Posted October 9th, 2013 in barristers, consultations, Law Society, legal profession, Legal Services Board, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“The frontline regulators need lay chairs at the helm so as to cut the ‘overly strong ties’ that still exist with their branches of the profession and have held back change, the Legal Services Board (LSB) said yesterday.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 9th October 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm shut down after top judge’s complaint over ‘untruthful’ asylum case – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 5th, 2013 in complaints, law firms, news, professional conduct, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“A law firm has been closed down after one of the country’s most senior judges asked regulators to investigate its last-minute bids to block the deportation of failed asylum seekers.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Investigate law firm after ‘untruthful’ asylum case, says top judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 9th, 2013 in abuse of process, contempt of court, deportation, law firms, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“One of the country’s most senior judges has asked a legal regulator to consider striking off a law firm over its last-minute bids to block the deportation of failed asylum seekers.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

High Court asks SRA to consider firm’s fitness to practise after contempt ruling – Legal Futures

Posted August 9th, 2013 in abuse of process, contempt of court, deportation, law firms, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“The incoming Lord Chief Justice has asked the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to consider a law firm’s continuing fitness to practise having found its senior partner in contempt of court.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 9th August 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Appeal court criticises SRA as it raises possibilty of more time to challenge interventions – Legal Futures

Posted July 19th, 2013 in appeals, human rights, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority, time limits by sally

“There may be circumstances in which the eight-day period solicitors have to challenge interventions into their practices should be extended, the Court of Appeal has suggested.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 19th July 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Cost of practising as a solicitor to rise sharply – Legal Futures

Posted July 8th, 2013 in budgets, compensation, fees, Law Society, licensing, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“The cost of practising as a solicitor is set to rise at a rate of more than four times inflation, if the Law Society’s council approves figures that will be put before it later this week.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 8th July 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar gets into shape for ABSs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 1st, 2013 in alternative business structures, barristers, legal services, licensing, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority by tracey

“The Bar Standards Board is simplifying criteria for approving new business entities, ahead of an application to become a licensing authority for alternative business structures.”

Full story

Law Soceity’s Gazette, 28th June 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

SRA and Legal Services Board tussle over ABS application process – Legal Futures

Posted June 20th, 2013 in alternative business structures, Legal Services Board, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“The Legal Services Board (LSB) has been critical of the length of the time the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has taken to approve alternative business structures (ABSs), it has emerged.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 20th June 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SDT rulings send out warning to law firms over relationships with debt recovery companies – Legal Futures

Posted June 17th, 2013 in charities, consumer credit, consumer protection, debts, disciplinary procedures, fines, law firms, news, professional conduct, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“Law firms must not allow arrangements with debt recovery companies to compromise their independence, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned, after two solicitors were fined heavily for allowing litigation to be carried out in their name.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 17th June 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Chambers becomes first ABS licensed by the SRA without a solicitor – Legal Futures

Posted June 12th, 2013 in alternative business structures, barristers, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“A London chambers has become the first alternative business structure (ABS) licensed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority that does not have any solicitors.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 11th June 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

LSB responds to consultation by revising plans for regulation of special bodies – Legal Services Board

Posted December 10th, 2012 in consultations, consumer protection, legal services, Legal Services Board, licensing, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“Special bodies – including not-for profit agencies and community interest companies –
providing reserved legal activities will not become licensed under the Legal Services Act 2007
until at least April 2015, the LSB confirms today [5 December].”

Full story (PDF)

Legal Services Board, 5th December 2012

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

UK Tour Lawcast #1: Andrew Hopper QC on the regulation of solicitors by the SRA – Charon QC

Posted October 31st, 2012 in codes of practice, legal education, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

“Today I talk with Andrew Hopper QC about the regulatory framework for solicitors, the Code of Practice, the strengths and shortcomings of the Solicitors regulation Authority and the need for legal education to be improved with good training for prospective lawyers in ethics – the morals and not simply the rules.”

Podcast

Charon QC, 31st October 2012

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.