Legal Services

An experienced solicitor-advocate has been struck off for misleading a judge that she was a barrister and then misleading the solicitors on the other side who questioned her behaviour.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/solicitor-led-judge-to-believe-she-was-a-barrister

Co Down solicitor Elaine Mary Early has been spared jail after admitting a series of fraud and money-laundering offences linked to client accounts, the Belfast Telegraph reports.

https://www.irishlegal.com/article/co-down-solicitor-avoids-jail-after-admitting-fraud-and-money-laundering

The Law Society is undergoing its latest internal reorganisation, with the aim of creating “the Future Law Society” by 2022, it has emerged.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/latest-reorganisation-seeks-to-build-future-law-society

Launching a report highlighting the international nature of London’s commercial courts and its attraction for foreign law firms, TheCityUK said revenue at the top 100 firms grew by 10% last year to reach £24.2bn.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/brexit-will-not-change-uks-position-as-global-legal-services-leader

The High Court has slapped an extended civil restraint order (ECRO) on a man who claimed the application was an attempt “to legitimise” a law firm’s attempt to defraud him.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/restraint-order-for-man-who-accused-solicitors-of-fraud

Law firms are adopting new technology in wide variety of ways, contradicting the received wisdom that they have been slow to embrace change, according to a new report.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/law-firms-embracing-tech-but-holding-back-on-ai-due-to-cost

A former Hove solicitor has been sentenced for stealing almost £110,000 from three elderly clients – the first fraud coming just months after a legal secretary he had employed was jailed for similar offences.

https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2018/11/14/hove-solicitor-who-stole-from-clients-followed-example-of-crooked-secretary-jailed-for-fraud/

A solicitor jailed for falsifying documents to bring a civil claim against a former employee, in actions the sentencing judge said attacked “the very heart of the justice system”, has been struck off.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/solicitor-struck-off-for-fraudulent-claim-against-ex-employee

An experienced solicitor has been struck off after being convicted of fraudulently claiming housing benefit when she had savings that made her ineligible.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/solicitor-struck-off-over-housing-benefit-conviction

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has been told by its own consumer panel that it has to share the responsibility for ensuring that consumers do not suffer at the hands of solicitors working for unregulated firms.

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/lsb-told-to-share-responsibility-after-sra-handbook-decision