Solicitor tried to take unfair advantage of other lawyer’s error – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor discarded an undertaking he had given and tried to take advantage of a mistake made by the law firm on the other side of a conveyancing transaction, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 15th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Teacher sacked over gay dating app activity wins £700,000 payout – The Guardian

‘A primary school headteacher who was sacked after having sex with two 17-year-old boys he met through a gay dating app has been awarded nearly £700,000 compensation by a tribunal.’

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The Guardian, 15th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Call for reform of pupil exclusions ‘as schools unaware of legal duties’ – The Guardian

The law reform group Justice has called for a radical overhaul of exclusions amid concerns that too many schools do not fully understand their legal duties and that the appeal process available to parents wishing to challenge an exclusion is inadequate.

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The Guardian, 11th November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tribunal lifts practising controls from ABS accountant – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has lifted practising restrictions on a finance director who was sanctioned less than three years ago, over the objections of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 11th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Joseph Hudson discusses Leeds United’s Kiko Casilla’s recent FA disciplinary charge – Park Square Barristers

Posted November 7th, 2019 in disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct, racism, sport by sally

‘LUFC goalkeeper Kiko Casilla is alleged to have racially abused Charlton Athletic forward Jonathan Leko during the Championship match between Charlton and Leeds on 28 September 2019.’

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Park Square Barristers, 6th November 2019

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Woman faked email reference to get law firm job – Legal Futures

‘A woman who set up a fake law firm email address so as to provide a bogus reference to a real firm looking to employ her has been banned from working in the profession.’

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Legal Futures, 4th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The new SRA Standards and Regulations: Greater freedom for solicitors? – 4 New Square

‘In this article, Helen Evans and Clare Dixon of 4 New Square review whether the new principles, codes of conduct and disciplinary procedure rules wholeheartedly reflect a relaxation of the SRA’s grip, or whether competing forces are apparent. They also consider whether one of the unintended consequence of some of the liberalisation is to introduce a two-tier regulatory system for solicitors practising within regulated entities (such as firms) and those outside that structure. Finally, they reflect on the likely impact of the new rules and relaxed burden of proof on the troublesome issues of dishonesty and lack of integrity- an issue that the Divisional Court was still picking apart as recently as last week in the matter of SRA v Siaw.’

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4 New Square, 21st October 2019

Source: www.4newsquare.com

‘How Did Liverpool Escape League Cup Expulsion?’ – Ashley Cukier on the EFL Disciplinary Panel’s Decision – Littleton Chambers

Posted November 1st, 2019 in disciplinary procedures, fines, news, professional conduct, sanctions, sport by sally

‘The English Football League (“EFL”) yesterday [3 October] announced that Liverpool FC had been found guilty of misconduct and fined £200,000 – of which £100,000 will be suspended until the end of Season 2020/21 – for having breached EFL Rules by fielding an ineligible player in their League Cup third round match against Milton Keynes Dons. The sanction has raised eyebrows in some parts: in 2016 the EFL, in an ostensibly more severe sanction, deducted 3 points from Bury FC for fielding an ineligible player and, as recently as last month, Grays Athletic FC were expelled from the FA Cup for the same offence. In the latest edition of the Littleton Sports Group’s ‘Five Things You Need to Know’ series, Ashley Cukier considers the sanction handed to Liverpool by the EFL Board.’

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Littleton Chambers, 3rd October 2019

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

New law “to put more pressure” on solicitors’ NDA advice – Legal Futures

‘A new law ensuring that employees signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) receive independent legal advice will “increase the onus” on solicitors to act properly when drafting them, the government has said.’

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Legal Futures, 30th October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Serious misconduct is not always a banning offence, High Court rules – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 29th, 2019 in disciplinary procedures, fraud, news, sanctions, solicitors by sally

‘The High Court has opted not to ban a solicitor caught up in a property scam, saying a finding of serious misconduct should not always result in such a penalty.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 28th October 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Police watchdog inquiry launched over Carl Beech report – The Guardian

‘An inquiry has been launched into the police watchdog after its report on the investigation into false claims of a VIP Westminster paedophile ring was branded “a whitewash”.’

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The Guardian, 28th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Serious misconduct “does not mean automatic strike-off” – Legal Futures

‘A finding of serious misconduct against a solicitor does not require striking off or an immediate suspension from practice, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 28th October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barrister suspended for offensive Facebook postings – Legal Futures

Posted October 25th, 2019 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, internet, news, professional conduct by sally

‘A barrister who posted a number of offensive and disparaging comments about a member of the public on Facebook has been suspended from practice.’

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Legal Futures, 25th October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Police disciplinary hearings dropped over Thomas Orchard death – The Guardian

‘The family of a church caretaker with mental health problems who died after being restrained at a police station have expressed anger after disciplinary proceedings against two detention officers were dropped.’

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The Guardian, 24th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lawyer protestors advised to do “risk analysis” – Legal Futures

‘Lawyers keen to protest in the streets with Extinction Rebellion (XR) should carry out their own “risk analysis” before taking part, a regulatory specialist has said.’

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Legal Futures, 24th October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

In-house lawyer cannot rely on leaked email for discrimination claim – Legal Futures

‘A former senior in-house lawyer at Shell cannot rely on a leaked internal email or an overheard pub conversation in his discrimination claim against the company, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Regulator warns barristers against heated Twitter debates – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Barristers have been warned they could face disciplinary action if they take part in ‘heated’ internet debates, post ‘distasteful’ comments online, or – even – reveal their whereabouts via social media.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 21st October 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Ex-Met detective loses court battle over payout for data breach – The Guardian

‘A former Metropolitan police detective who successfully sued the force for wrongly using its powers to investigate her has lost her eight-year court battle to hold the police to account.’

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The Guardian, 21st October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court upgrades solicitor’s “lenient” fine to strike-off – Legal Futures

Posted October 21st, 2019 in deceit, disciplinary procedures, fees, fines, licensing, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) was too lenient in only fining a solicitor who had clients pay money into his personal bank account, High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 21st October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barristers warned over social media misuse “at all times” – Legal Futures

‘Barristers who use social media inappropriately will face disciplinary action even if they believe they are doing so in their private capacity, the Bar Standards Board has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 21st October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk