Legal regulators “need to work on building trust” with their communities – Legal Futures

Posted January 10th, 2023 in conveyancing, disciplinary procedures, news, solicitors by sally

‘Legal regulators can reduce the amount of enforcement work they need to undertake if they can build enough trust that lawyers will approach them before things go wrong, an event has heard.’

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Legal Futures, 10th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Can the tables ever be turned: when can professionals sue their clients for breaching duties to them? by Helen Evans KC – 4 New Square Chambers

‘When professionals are sued, it’s not unusual for them to make an assertion that their clients were “up to something”, or to complain that they had provided wilfully misleading or incomplete instructions.’

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4 New Square Chambers, 7th December 2022

Source: www.4newsquare.com

SRA can enforce costs order against solicitor struck off in 2010 – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) can enforce a £15,000 costs order against a struck-off solicitor more than 12 years after it was made, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 6th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor fails to persuade judge to reconsider unfair dismissal ruling – Legal Futures

Posted January 5th, 2023 in disciplinary procedures, news, solicitors, unfair dismissal by sally

‘An assistant solicitor who won his unfair dismissal claim solely on the basis of the procedure followed has failed to persuade the judge to reconsider his decision.’

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Legal Futures, 5th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judge warns solicitors over witness statement compliance certificates – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has issued a stark warning to solicitors who sign a certificate of compliance on non-compliant witness statements so their clients can have their day in court.’

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Legal Futures, 4th January 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA to step up action over non-compliance with transparency rules – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is to take a “more robust approach” to enforcing its transparency rules after its latest work indicated widespread non-compliance.’

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Legal Futures, 20th December 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court allows costs challenge by client ‘not informed’ about options – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 19th, 2022 in costs, damages, news, personal injuries, solicitors, time limits by tracey

‘The High Court has ruled that a costs bill can be challenged after the one-year time limit for requesting detailed assessment. In Menzies v Oakwood Solicitors, Mr Justice Bourne said Leeds firm Oakwood Solicitors had not made clear to a former client the procedure for objecting to the deduction of costs from his damages. Payment was therefore not effected by a settlement of account and a challenge could still be made.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 16th December 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Poor state of English and Welsh courts worsening backlog, says Law Society – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2022 in courts, delay, Law Society, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Broken heating, sewage, mould, asbestos and leaking toilets and roofs are among the problems encountered by solicitors in courts in England and Wales, a survey by the Law Society has found.’

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The Guardian, 19th December 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

BSB mulls SLAPPs guidance as Zahawi’s solicitors are referred to SRA – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is considering following the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in issuing guidance on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).’

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Legal Futures, 5th December 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court green lights inheritance claim despite solicitor’s limitation error – Legal Futures

Posted December 2nd, 2022 in families, limitations, news, solicitors, time limits, wills by tracey

‘A woman whose solicitors’ error meant she was too late to challenge her mother’s will has been given permission to bring her action out of time.’

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Legal futures, 2nd December 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judge praises solicitor subject to ‘intense, personal’ abuse from LiP – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 2nd, 2022 in families, family courts, harassment, litigants in person, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The family court has reserved praise for a solicitor operating in the face of repeated abuse from a litigant in person. In TF v DL (Post separation Litigation Abuse) a father made a total of 13 applications in relation to access to his children, the tone of which District Judge Webb described as “deeply offensive, homophobic and sexist”.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 1st December 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitors fury at “real-terms cut” in criminal legal aid fees – Legal Futures

Posted December 1st, 2022 in fees, Law Society, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Law Society yesterday reacted with fury to the government’s failure to deliver the 15% increase in criminal legal aid fees that its own report said was needed as a bare minimum.’

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Legal Futures, 1st December 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

One for all: SRA regulation for staff – Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog

‘All those who work in law firms, not just lawyers, are liable to sanction by both their employer and the SRA for acts of misconduct…’

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Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog, 29th November 2022

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

News focus: Legal aid pay rises would stoke inflation – Raab – Law Society’s Gazette

‘With the government set to unveil its full response to the Bellamy legal aid review, lord chancellor Dominic Raab says extra cash for solicitors is unlikely. The prospect of industrial action still looms.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 25thNovember 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

MPs back tougher economic crime fines and oversight for lawyers – Legal Futures

‘MPs have backed giving the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) unlimited fining powers in cases of economic crime.’

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Legal Futures, 24th November 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

More cash for solicitors? Not the right thing to do – Raab – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Lord chancellor Dominic Raab has signalled that he will not be announcing extra cash for solicitors when the government’s response to the Bellamy legal aid review is published next week.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 23rd November 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Alleged Islamophobia in misconduct proceedings: El Diwany – Law & Religion UK

‘Mr Farid El Diwany was twice convicted in Norway of harassment [16] and, in consequence, was struck off the Roll of Solicitors [16(ix)]. In El Diwany v Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd [2022] EWHC 2882 (Admin), he appealed against an order of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (“the SDT”) dated 18 November 2021 refusing his application to be restored to the Roll [1].’

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Law & Religion UK, 16th November 2022

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Identity of those instructing solicitors not protected by litigation privilege – Legal Futures

Posted November 15th, 2022 in anonymity, news, privacy, privilege, solicitors by sally

‘There is no general rule that the identity of those instructing solicitors on behalf of a corporate client is protected by litigation privilege, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 15th November 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor awarded £32,000 over anxiety during employment transfer – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A solicitor whose employment was transferred to another firm without notice or consultation has succeeded in a claim for constructive dismissal.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th November 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Personal injury solicitor awarded £32,000 for unfair dismissal – Legal Futures

‘A personal injury solicitor who was transferred to a new law firm without notice or consultation has been awarded just under £32,000 in damages by an employment tribunal.’

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Legal Futures, 10th November 2022

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk