Category: professional conduct

Watchdog fines former Quindell auditor £1m for misconduct – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 24th, 2018 in auditors, fines, news, professional conduct by sally

‘A former auditor of scandal-hit insurance software firm Quindell has been fined £1m and reprimanded by the accounting watchdog for “misconduct” in its handling of the company’s finances. The Financial Reporting Council said Arrandco Audit, formerly known as RSM Tenon, failed to “exercise sufficient professional scepticism” and to ensure the company’s financial statements in the year to January 2011 were free from inaccuracies. One of its partners, Jeremy Filley, was also slapped with an £80,000 fine.’

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd January 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Lords vote for second Leveson probe into press conduct – BBC News

Posted January 11th, 2018 in bills, corruption, data protection, inquiries, media, news, parliament, police, professional conduct by sally

‘Peers have backed a proposal that would require Theresa May to proceed with the second stage of the Leveson inquiry.’

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BBC News, 10th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

SDT issues mental health warning to employers in case of solicitor under billing pressure – Legal Futures

Posted January 10th, 2018 in forgery, mental health, news, professional conduct, solicitors, tribunals by sally

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has decided against striking off a solicitor it found had forged correspondence and lied to both her client and her employer, after finding that a root cause of her misconduct was the firm’s culture and the pressure it exerted on her to meet billing targets.’

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Legal Futures, 10th January 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Independent Office for Police Conduct – UK Police Law Blog

Posted January 9th, 2018 in complaints, news, police, professional conduct by sally

‘The IOPC today replaces the Independent Police Complaints Commission Commission.’

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UK Police Law Blog, 8th January 2018

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Watching porn at work – what are the legal consequences? – The Guardian

Posted January 9th, 2018 in codes of practice, employment, internet, news, parliament, pornography, professional conduct by sally

‘In a four month period in 2017, there were 24,000 attempts to access pornographic websites in the Houses of Parliament. Westminster may be a special case, but should it be a sackable offence in regular offices?’

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The Guardian, 8th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Consumer panel warns SRA that latest Handbook reforms are recipe for “consumer confusion” – Legal Futures

Posted January 9th, 2018 in consumer protection, news, professional conduct, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP) has warned that the second phase of reforms to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Handbook would “compound existing complexities” and could further confuse consumers.’

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Legal Futures, 9th January 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Jamie Hancock banned from teaching for life over ‘sexually motivated’ messages – BBC News

Posted December 21st, 2017 in disqualification, news, professional conduct, sexual offences, teachers by sally

‘A teacher has been banned from his profession for life after he “utterly exploded” proper professional boundaries.’

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BBC News, 20th December 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Barrister suspended for giving client money ‘for food’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 18th, 2017 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct, tribunals by sally

‘A barrister who gave a client cash to pay bills and buy clothes while he was representing her in criminal proceedings has been suspended for six months.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th December 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Exclusive: “The impact has been devastating but I have to stand up to discrimination,” says barrister suing BSB – Legal Futures

Posted December 13th, 2017 in barristers, limitations, news, professional conduct, race discrimination, Supreme Court by sally

‘The barrister who won the first stage of her battle with the Bar Standards Board (BSB) at the Supreme Court last week said the impact of almost five years of litigation had been “completely devastating” for her law firm.’

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Legal Futures, 13th December 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Supreme Court go-ahead for barrister’s race claim against regulator – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 7th, 2017 in appeals, barristers, disciplinary procedures, human rights, news, professional conduct, race discrimination, Supreme Court by sally

‘A practising barrister who alleges that her regulator discriminated against her on grounds of her race in bringing disciplinary proceedings has won the backing of the UK’s highest court. In O’Connor v Bar Standards Board, five Supreme Court justices unanimously granted Daphne Evadney Portia O’Connor’s appeal against a Bar Standards Board decision to strike out a claim that the BSB had acted unlawfully in charging her with professional misconduct.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 6th December 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

UK watchdog launches inquiry into teacher who admitted molesting boys – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2017 in child abuse, news, professional conduct, sexual offences, teachers by sally

‘The UK teachers’ watchdog has launched an investigation into alleged misconduct by an American teacher who the Guardian revealed was hired by two British schools despite previously admitting molesting boys.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

BSB to lower standard of proof in disciplinary cases as it names new chair – Legal Futures

Posted November 27th, 2017 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct, standard of proof by sally

‘The standard of proof in disciplinary cases involving barristers is being lowered to the balance of probabilities following a decision yesterday by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).’

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Legal Futures, 24th November 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Civil standard of proof set to be adopted for professional misconduct proceedings for barristers – Bar Standards Board

Posted November 24th, 2017 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, press releases, professional conduct, standard of proof by sally

‘Following a public consultation earlier this year, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has decided to change the standard of proof applied when barristers, and others regulated by the BSB, face disciplinary proceedings for professional misconduct. Subject to approval from the Legal Services Board (LSB), the standard of proof will change from the criminal standard (“beyond reasonable doubt”) to the civil standard (“on the balance of probabilities”). The change will bring the Bar’s disciplinary arrangements in line with most other professions.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 24th November 2017

Source: www.barstandsboard.org.uk

Police officers should not treat journalists like criminals, Met Police commissioner says – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 14th, 2017 in corruption, media, news, police, professional conduct by sally

‘Police officers should be more open and transparent with journalists and should not treat them like criminals, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has said.’

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Daily Telegraph, 13th November 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Defendant granted relief even though its solicitor lied about breach – Litigation Futures

Posted November 13th, 2017 in consent, deceit, documents, electronic mail, evidence, judges, news, professional conduct, sanctions, service, solicitors by sally

‘A circuit judge has narrowly decided to grant relief from sanctions in a case where the defendant solicitor lied that documents had been sent in time when they had not.’

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Litigation Futures, 13th November 2017

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

City firm fined record £500k over solicitor’s links with investment schemes – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 9th, 2017 in disciplinary procedures, fines, law firms, news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal today confirmed its largest-ever fine levied against a law firm in England and Wales.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th November 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Whistleblowers deterred by fears over damaging career prospects, finds research – The Independent

Posted November 8th, 2017 in employment, news, professional conduct, reports, statistics, whistleblowers by sally

‘Nearly two-thirds of UK business managers would avoid whistleblowing at work for fear of damaging their career prospects, a new report has found.’

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The Independent, 8th November 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Teacher who filmed up schoolgirls’ skirts will not face prosecution as judge rules it’s not illegal – The Independent

Posted November 8th, 2017 in crime, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct, school children, setting aside, sexual offences, teachers, video recordings, voyeurism by sally

‘An assistant headteacher who used his mobile phone to film up schoolgirls’ skirts will not face prosecution after a judge ruled his actions were not illegal.’

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The Independent, 7th November 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The victims of Orgreave deserve justice and the truth – despite what the Government thinks – The Independent

Posted October 30th, 2017 in assault, industrial action, inquiries, news, police, professional conduct, trials by sally

‘The parallels between Hillsborough and Orgreave are alarming. The same attempt to divert blame from the police. The same methods to conceal the truth. In many cases, the same officers.’

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The Independent, 30th October 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

High Court grants injunction to stop former in-house solicitor acting against ex-employer – Legal Futures

Posted October 30th, 2017 in codes of practice, confidentiality, conflict of interest, disclosure, injunctions, news, privilege, professional conduct, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The High Court has granted an injunction restraining a former in-house solicitor from acting in proceedings against her former employer, saying that even if she was aware of the danger of disclosing confidential information, she might still subconsciously use it.’

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Legal Futures, 30th October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk