Defending Solicitors' Rights To Practise
In March 2022, we wrote about how former solicitor Elizabeth Nedin deliberately concealed a complaint made by one of her clients and was struck off the Roll of Solicitors as a result. In this article, … Read More
In recent years, there have been numerous cases and reports of law practitioners in the UK who have experienced toxic workplaces, bullying, harassment, intimidation, and pressure to work excessive hours. Back in 2020, Tiernan Brady, … Read More
In November 2021, the SRA announced proposals to significantly hike its fining powers in addition to a new ‘fast-track’ system for fixed penalties for lesser breaches of its rules. This is not the first time … Read More
For many years now, we have been writing about how some UK law firms have struggled to stamp out money laundering and the ever-increasing pressure being imposed by the SRA on law professionals to do … Read More
In its ongoing strive to modernise the legal sector, the SRA has recently undergone a fresh drive to encourage law firms to offer ‘unbundled services’ with the Regulator unveiling plans for a pilot scheme to … Read More
So what should you do if the SRA starts an investigation against you or your firm? If you understand the investigatory process and have well organised files and detailed client and firm accounts, then with … Read More
On 21 January 2021, in what the SRA referred to as a “clamp down”, they announced they had already disciplined nine law firms for not adhering to rules on transparency. It appears this clamp down … Read More
In the digital age, our actions, thoughts, and feelings are there for all to see on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. Employers are routinely scouring social media accounts of prospective … Read More
Back in November 2016, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) removed the requirement for solicitors to count CPD hours and replaced this with a self-regulatory requirement for legal professionals. They advised legal practitioners to “reflect on … Read More
Under the SRA Accounts Rules, law firms are required to “have systems and controls in place to ensure compliance with these rules [the SRA rules] and the nature of those systems must be appropriate to … Read More
If you have been investigated by the SRA and the matter has been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) it is imperative that you instruct an experienced SRA and SDT defence solicitor. This is … Read More
The SRA has imposed sanctions on four law firms for failing to meet the transparency requirements introduced in 2018. Published decision notices show Manchester firm AWH Legal was fined £2,000, London firm Sal & Co … Read More
Mark Boyle, policy lead on anti-money laundering for the SRA has stated that law firms must learn exactly where their clients’ money is coming from if they want to effectively fight money laundering. The statement … Read More
There have been several recent cases of dishonesty before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) following Solicitors Regulation Authority investigations (SRA). Below is a summary of two of these decisions and what can be learnt from … Read More
Without moving too far into the controversial political sphere, it is safe to say that the current UK Government’s commitment to the Rule of Law is slightly lacking. From the move to prorogue Parliament in … Read More
The Legal Services Consumer Panel is concerned that clients have limited means of knowing whether a solicitor is competent and has ensured his or her skills have been updated throughout what can be a long … Read More
On 17 August 2020, the SRA issued a warning notice stating that solicitors need to be vigilant when it comes to providing advice on investment schemes. The notice is an update on a pre-existing notice, … Read More
On 12 June 2020, Baker McKenzie’s former London senior partner was fined £55,000 for serious professional misconduct. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) found that Gary Senior attempted to embrace and kiss a junior colleague in … Read More
The current Coronavirus pandemic is posing a considerable headache for businesses across the length and breadth of the UK, and indeed the whole world. Law firms are needing to react quickly to ensure the continuity … Read More
In November 2019, it was reported by the Law Gazette that the number of ‘sitting days’ for the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) this year is projected to be “vastly” down (26%) on last year. This … Read More