Defending Solicitors' Rights To Practise
On 21st June 2024, the SRA issued a warning notice to law firms about the requirement to address any shortages in client accounts promptly. The warning highlights the severe consequences of failing to replace missing … Read More
In September 2023, the Architects Registration Board (ARB) published a consultation report on proposals for a new regulatory approach to how architects are trained and educated in the UK. In this article, we will take … Read More
In part 1 of this article, we looked at the SRA’s Risk Outlook report on the implications of AI for the UK’s legal market. In part 2, we will look at some of the specific … Read More
On 20th February 2024, RICS published new guidance entitled, ‘Developing an Inclusive Culture’ with the aim of encouraging greater levels of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the chartered surveyor sector and more broadly. The … Read More
True to their word, the SRA has started 2024 by cracking down hard on law firm anti-money laundering (AML) non-compliance. In October 2023, the SRA issued a warning notice regarding client and matter risk assessments, … Read More
A group called the ‘CILEX Action Group’ has stated that it may take legal action against CILEX if its charter and bye-laws are changed without the approval of members. This follows a declaration of no … Read More
In January 2024, the SRA announced it had written to over 1,000 law firms to provide guidance on complying with the UK’s financial sanctions regime. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has a wide … Read More
Perhaps one of the biggest themes of 2023 was the widescale adoption and proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in all areas of life. The rather unnerving (or exciting, depending on your standpoint) reality is that … Read More
If you have received a warning letter from the SRA warning that your law firm is not compliant with their Transparency Rules, you are not alone. The SRA is currently carrying out an “ongoing programme … Read More
On 1st October 2023, the SRA officially took over the management of the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF). This follows agreement by the SRA’s board in February 2023 to bring the SIF under their control. The … Read More
At the end of August 2023, the SRA opened a new consultation on the future regulation of Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) members. This follows formal talks in 2022 between the two bodies on … Read More
The SDT has published its judgment in relation to the striking off of two solicitors who aided a disgraced unregistered barrister to defraud clients of £172,000. The case, which was heard by the SDT between … Read More
On 1st June 2023, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) made a number of important changes to its disciplinary framework and processes. In addition to changing the disciplinary process, the ICAEW … Read More
On 14th August 2023, the SRA published a report into the preparation of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) by law firms between employers and employees. The report entitled “Thematic Review: The use of Non-Disclosure Agreements in workplace … Read More
In the UK, the Architects Act 1997 (AA 1997) provides for the regulation of the architects’ profession, with the Architects Registration Board (ARB) being responsible for its oversight. The ARB exists to: manage the UK … Read More
Standards matter; of this there is little dispute, but when it comes to the development and management of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure, standards are vital to safety, economic sustainability, and health. As a … Read More
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the operational practices of several sectors, and law is no exception. ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is a language model which can understand user questions, generate comprehensive responses, and facilitate conversation. … Read More
On 10th May 2023, the SRA announced a new consultation inviting input on their 2023-2026 Corporate Strategy. This builds on the current 2020-2023 Corporate Strategy after discussion with the SRA’s Board, SRA staff, and a … Read More
In May 2023, the Legal Service Board (LSB) published a new study entitled, ‘The lived experiences of legal professionals: Barriers to getting in, being in and getting on – Qualitative Research Debrief’. The purpose of … Read More
As the independent statutory Post Office Horizon IT scandal Inquiry continues throughout 2023 and beyond, significant scrutiny is being placed on the actions and conduct of those within the legal profession who contributed to the … Read More
