Axiom Ince crackdown – SRA directed to take action
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been directed to take action by the Legal Services Board (LSB) in the wake of the independent review into the failure of Axiom Ince. In response to the report, in which the SRA was criticised for regulatory failings in the run up to the collapse of Axion Ince, it […]
LAA cyber attack “devastating” on legal aid firms
The cyber attack at the Legal Aid Agency which has taken down many of its system has had a ‘devastating’ effect on the sector, particularly for legal aid firms who simply don’t have the cash flow or reserves to cover salaries and overheads for an extended period. The comment come from Beverley Watkins, Managing Partner […]
Family firm’s judicial review of ombudsman decision upheld in part
A judicial review has overturned in part a decision by the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) to award a family law firm’s client over £50,000 after they complained the firm had failed to adequately assess capacity and charged excessive costs in a divorce matter. In a provisional decision in August 2023 LeO awarded £35,500 in recompense for […]
SRA seeks views on proposals to strengthen client complaints procedure
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is seeking views on new proposals for dealing with client complaints, which include changing when relevant information about the process must be provided and displaying the details prominently online. Although the SRA acknowledges that satisfaction with legal service providers is high, with 82% of all first-tier complaints resolved satisfactorily, it […]
LSB consultation risks ‘undervaluing’ work of regulators on ethics
Placing further ‘onerous duties on frontline regulators that will deliver little more than what is currently in place‘ was one of the comments from CILEX in response to the Legal Services Board’s ‘Upholding Professional Ethical Duties’ consultation which closed last week. Now The Law Society of England and Wales have weighed in on the consultation […]
Former journalist appointed as new Law Society deputy vice president
Former journalist Dana Denis-Smith OBE has been elected as the new deputy vice president of the Law Society of England and Wales, taking office from October 2025. Denis-Smith OBE spent a decade as a journalist before qualifying as a solicitor with Linklaters and is currently CEO of Obelisk Support, a legal services provider offering flexible legal solutions. She is […]
Enhancing domestic abuse screening in family mediation
In this episode of the Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast host David Opie is joined by Mike Mack, CEO of the Family Mediation Trust, and Lorraine Bramwell, a seasoned family mediator and trainer, to discuss the creation of a new Domestic Abuse Screening Tool. The initiative is a collaboration between the Family Mediation Trust and the […]