New tech demands code of “cyber ethics” for lawyers – Legal Futures

‘The legal profession will have to develop “cyber ethics” to cope with the very different issues that the growing use of technology is having on the practice of law, a leading academic has suggested.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd October 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judge who disparaged one party’s counsel “did not give appearance of bias” – Litigation Futures

‘A judge who was “snide” and disparaging to counsel for one of the parties before her did nonetheless not give the appearance of bias, the High Court has ruled.’

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Litigation Futures, 15th October 2018

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Barristers to face new standard of proof in disciplinary cases – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has granted permission for the bar regulator to change the standard of proof applied in disciplinary proceedings, a move which could make it easier for barristers to be sanctioned.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 12th October 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Jail for PI lawyer who lied in witness statements – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor described by a High Court judge as a “thoroughly dishonest man” has been jailed and a medical expert who produced an “astonishing” 32 reports a day handed a suspended prison sentence for civil contempt of court.’

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Legal Futures, 10th October 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barristers not making harassment complaints to regulator – Legal Futures

‘Reports of sexual harassment at the Bar are not turning into formal complaints to barristers’ regulator, new figures have shown.’

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Legal Futures, 1 October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court of Appeal quashes finding that doctor was dishonest — Sapan Maini-Thompson – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Raychaudhuri v General Medical Council [2018] EWCA Civ 2027. On 14th September 2018 the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal by a doctor against a finding that his fitness to practice was impaired by reason of dishonesty.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 27th September 2018

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Standard of proof: Barristers warned against “defensive lawyering” – Legal Futures

‘It would be “extremely disappointing” if barristers’ became more defensive in their behaviour as a result of lowering the standard of proof for disciplinary matters, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 13th September 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Robing room is not a “no-go area” for barristers’ regulator – Legal Futures

Posted August 29th, 2018 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct by sally

‘Robing rooms may be a private sanctuary for barristers but they cannot be viewed as a “no-go area” for their regulator, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 28th August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barrister who failed to give “unwelcome advice” suspended – Legal Futures

‘A barrister who failed to give “unwelcome advice” to an “over-enthusiastic client” about a private criminal prosecution has been suspended for a month by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK accounting regulator fines KPMG £2.1 million after misconduct admission – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 21st, 2018 in auditors, financial regulation, fines, news, professional conduct by sally

‘The UK’s accountancy regulator, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has fined KPMG £2.1 million after an investigation into audits of fashion company Ted Baker.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th August 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Barrister should not have been suspended for “robing room gossip” – Legal Futures

Posted August 17th, 2018 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct by sally

‘An experienced barrister should not have been suspended for “mere gossip” in the robing rooms of Crown Courts, the High Court was told this week.’

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Legal Futures, 17th August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA seeks to clarify threshold for reporting misconduct – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is looking to clarify the threshold used by law firms when deciding whether to report concerns over misconduct.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd August 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Time to play by the rules? – New Law Journal

‘John Gould offers some advice on how to strike a balance between clarity & flexibility in recent changes to the solicitors’ rule book.’

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New Law Journal, 27th July 2018

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Judge criticises ‘generally unhelpful’ firm over application in VW case – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 31st, 2018 in class actions, costs, law firms, news, professional conduct by sally

‘A Derbyshire firm involved in the group action case against car maker Volkswagen (VW) has been criticised for its ‘inconsistent, non-engaging and generally unhelpful’ conduct in an application to extend the timeframe for a service of claim.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 31st July 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Barrister fined for failing to follow instructions – Legal Futures

Posted July 31st, 2018 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, fines, news, professional conduct by sally

‘An experienced criminal law barrister has been fined by a Bar disciplinary tribunal for failing to apply for a forfeiture order on behalf of his local authority client.’

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Legal Futures, 31st July 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Teacher bans: Sexually motivated conduct is most common cause – BBC News

Posted July 26th, 2018 in disqualification, news, professional conduct, sexual grooming, teachers by sally

‘Sexually motivated, inappropriate conduct is the reason for a third of teaching bans, the BBC has found.’

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BBC News, 26th July 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs’ anti-bullying rules will cover Speaker, Leadsom suggests – The Guardian

Posted July 17th, 2018 in bullying, news, parliament, professional conduct by tracey

‘New rules to stop MPs from bullying and harassing staff will cover the office of the Speaker, meaning that any future complaints about John Bercow would have to be investigated, the leader of the Commons has suggested.’

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The Guardian, 17th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court judge berates leading law firm for “shameful” behaviour – Legal Futures

Posted July 12th, 2018 in airlines, costs, law firms, news, professional conduct by sally

‘A High Court judge has accused leading law firm Pinsent Masons of losing sight of “any basic standard of decent and compassionate behaviour” in the way it dealt with the widow of a defendant its client was suing.’

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Legal Futures, 11th July 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BSB explains how it assures competence at the Bar – Bar Standards Board

‘Following its decision last year not to implement the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA), the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published more detail about how it assures the competence of barristers.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 5th July 2018

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Hampshire police hand investigation into Gosport hospital deaths to another force after admitting failings – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 22nd, 2018 in doctors, homicide, hospitals, news, police, professional conduct, prosecutions by tracey

‘Hundreds of deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital are to be investigated by a new force after Hampshire’s chief constable admitted its inquiries were not fit for purpose.’

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Daily Telegraph, 21st June 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk