Solicitor faked email to cover inaction – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor claiming to have become overwhelmed by pressure of work has been struck off after dishonestly misleading clients that she had made court applications.’

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Legal Futures, 14th February 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SDT clears partner in “accidental overcharging” case – Legal Futures

‘A former head of private client accused of overcharging an estate by up to £30,000 when acting as executor has been cleared of misconduct by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).’

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Legal Futures, 12th February 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“Dishonest” ABS owner banned for multiple breaches – Legal Futures

‘A non-lawyer owner of an alternative business structure (ABS) responsible for multiple rule breaches – including a £3.6m shortfall on his firm’s client account – has been banned from working in another one.’

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Legal Futures, 11th February 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA presses ahead with plan to cut compensation awards – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is pressing on with plans to cut the upper limit for Compensation Fund awards from £2m to £500,000, while modifying other proposals to reduce the cost of the scheme.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd January 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Criminal legal aid solicitor struck off for accounts rule breaches – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor has been struck off after nearly 40 years in practice after admitting that the difficulties of relying on payment from criminal legal aid work overwhelmed him.’

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Legal Futures, 21st January 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Fake lawyer who represented clients in High Court faces jail time – Daily Telegraph

‘A man who pretended to be a qualified and experienced solicitor as he represented clients at the High Court is facing a possible jail sentence.’

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Daily Telegraph, 20th January 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sexual misconduct cases at record high in legal profession – The Guardian

‘The number of reports of sexual misconduct in the legal profession in England have increased over the last five years and have reached a record high, according to newly released figures.’

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The Guardian, 20th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

New advertising rule “not a complete ban”, says SRA – Legal Futures

Posted December 19th, 2019 in advertising, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The new rule that prohibits solicitors from making unsolicited approaches to members of the public is not a blanket ban on all advertising, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has clarified.’

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Legal Futures, 19th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BSB and SRA in firing line over shortcomings – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has been told that it needs to act more quickly on how it plans to educate the public about barristers after its widely criticised decision to stop funding consumer-facing website Legal Choices.’

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Legal Futures, 19th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor fined £50,000 for misusing client’s interim payments – Legal Futures

‘A solicitor who spent £46,600 of a disabled client’s interim payments on costs and disbursements instead of on rehabilitation, has been fined £50,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).’

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Legal Futures, 13th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tribunal savages SRA witnesses as prosecution left in tatters – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has savaged two witnesses who gave evidence on behalf of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) against a Yorkshire sole practitioner.’

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Legal Futures, 12th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor rebuked for issuing cheque that bounced – Legal Futures

Posted December 10th, 2019 in cheques, fines, news, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘A solicitor has been sanctioned for sending a client a cheque for his damages which bounced.’

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Legal Futures, 10th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor who felt “intimidated” by clients struck off – Legal Futures

‘A partner who said she felt “threatened and intimidated” by clients who would not accept her advice to discontinue has been struck off for lying about the progress of their cases.’

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Legal Futures, 9th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Partner “too embarrassed” to tell clients truth is struck off – Legal Futures

‘A partner who misled beneficiaries about the progress of a case to resolve a dispute over estate assets and then found himself “too embarrassed” to tell them the truth has been struck off.’

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Legal Futures, 5th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tribunal rejects SRA’s disciplinary “ambush”- Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has rejected four allegations of multiple rule breaches against a solicitor because they were so badly drafted.’

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Legal Futures, 28th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA rules open up working or competing with the Bar – Legal Futures

‘The new rules allowing solicitors to work from unregulated businesses open up several opportunities for solicitors – including working with or in competition with barristers, specialists have predicted.’

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Legal Futures, 27th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA suspends immigration part of new rules – Legal Futures

Posted November 25th, 2019 in immigration, news, regulations, solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has had to suspend rules due to come into force today that would allow solicitors to operate from firms regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).’

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Legal Futures, 25th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Reach for the STaRs – new solicitors’ rulebook goes live – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) new rulebook – Standards and Regulations (STaRs) – comes into force today, with experts highlighting several areas of significant change and opportunity for firms.’

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Legal Futures, 25th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

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

Law firms’ “shocking” vulnerability to cyber criminals – Legal Futures

Posted November 13th, 2019 in computer crime, internet, law firms, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority by sally

‘The vast majority of major law firms still have significant unaddressed cyber-risk, despite repeated urging by regulators, insurers and others to shore up their defences, according to new research.’

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Legal Futures, 12th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk