The implementation of the fourth anti-money laundering directive (2015/849) is one of the common themes this year, and how it impacts each bar. Both Finland and Sweden report, for instance, that the proposed sanctions regime of their governments under the national implementing provisions will take away the sanctioning of lawyers in some respects from the […]
The Law Society has urged the government to ensure that the application of powers to snoop on communications respects legal professional privilege. Commenting on a consultation on codes of practice under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, Society president Robert Bourns said: ‘Legal professional privilege is the cornerstone of the trusting relationship between a solicitor and […]
New discount rate for personal injury claims announced From: Ministry of Justice 27 February 2017 The Lord Chancellor has today announced changes to personal injury compensation payments. When victims of life-changing injuries accept lump sum compensation payments, the actual amount they receive is adjusted according to the interest they can expect to earn by investing it. In finalising […]
Solicitors could no longer be asked to witness signatures on Land Registry forms if proposals for electronic signatures are adopted. In a long-awaited step towards electronic conveyancing, the registry has opened a consultation on amending rules to allow documents to be signed online by the government’s Gov.UK.Verify process. Law Society president Robert Bourns described the […]
Wednesday, 15 February 2017 LSB revises its diversity guidance The Legal Services Board (LSB) today issues its revised statutory guidance for regulators on diversity. The changes introduced place a focus on improved outcomes, ensuring all regulators take their work in this area beyond data collection. The revised guidance allows regulators freedom to deliver their own, […]
Legal Services Board to examine SRA governance and The Law Society see letter to Paul Tenant OBE Interim CEO from LSB LSB letter to TLS 17 Feb 2017
Call to give SRA power to strike off solicitors Posted By Neil Rose Disciplinary cases involving solicitors are now akin to High Court trials and there needs to be a major overhaul that would make the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) responsible for handing out all sanctions, including strike-offs, a former prosecutor has said. Iain Miller […]
Robert Bourns, Law Society president, said: “I am delighted to be working with Paul Tennant whilst we finalise arrangements for recruiting a permanent chief executive for the organisation. “Paul has been chief executive of a large and complex housing organisation but also has a clear understanding of non-executive leadership roles, having been president of the […]
Nearly five years after the Law Society successfully campaigned for HSBC to expand its conveyancing panel to include all firms accredited under Chancery Lane’s specialist kitemark, the High Street lender has raised the mortgage threshold for sole practitioners who can act for the bank and borrowers. HSBC has announced that it will increase the loan […]
The Bar Council has warned unregistered barristers acting as solicitors’ agents that they could face prison if they do not comply with a ‘narrow’ area of law. In guidance published this week the body said anyone working as a solicitor’s agent needs to ‘consider carefully’ whether they meet requirements outlined in the Legal Services Act […]