New regulatory proposals to strengthen lawyers’ ethical standards
New regulatory measures to strengthen ethical standards in the legal sector have been proposed today, to initiate a significant shift in how lawyers’ ethics are taught, overseen and supported in workplaces. The Legal Services Board (LSB) is seeking views on how regulators support lawyers to fully understand and uphold their ethical duties throughout their careers. […]
Board gives go-ahead for CILEX change
The Board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has agreed it would regulate Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) members, if CILEX decides to redelegate this to the SRA. CILEX approached the SRA about this potential change in 2022. Last year, the SRA consulted on the arrangements it would introduce for the regulation of authorised CILEX members. Following a […]
LSB publishes independent review of the SRA’s regulation of SSB Group Limited
The LSB write with regard to the LSB’s review of the SRA’s regulation of SSB Group Limited. They have engaged an independent firm of solicitors, Carson McDowell LLP, to carry out an independent review on our behalf. They have set out below the scope of the review. Please note that the scope of the review […]
SRA ‘should withdraw’ proposals to regulate CILEX members
The Law Society of England and Wales has expressed concern at the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) continued pursuit of regulating authorised and non-authorised members of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX). The SRA’s consultation into proposals to regulate non-authorised members of CILEX lacks clear, evidence-based reasons as to the impact of these proposals on […]
CILEx Regulation raise concerns in SRA consultation response
CILEx Regulation has submitted its response to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s current consultation launched on 20 March 2024 which sets out their proposals for the regulation of non-authorised CILEX members, including CILEX students, affiliates and paralegals. CRL remains concerned that the wider question of the lawfulness and legitimacy of CILEX’s proposals to redelegate regulatory […]
LSB issues guidance to regulators to spur innovation and widen access to legal services
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has issued guidance to regulators, pushing them to be proactive in creating an environment that encourages lawyers and law firms to innovate to help better connect people to legal services. Produced following an extensive period of research, consultation and stakeholder engagement, the statutory guidance sets three outcomes. Regulators should ensure […]
LSB to review SRA regulatory actions in the lead-up to the collapse of SSB Group
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has announced an independent review of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) regulatory actions in the lead-up to the collapse of SSB Group. The LSB will add this review to the scope of its current review into regulatory events prior to SRA’s intervention into Axiom Ince (announced in December 2023). The […]
LSB publishes plans to strengthen regulatory oversight in the public interest
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published plans for 2024/25 on how it will ensure regulation contributes fully to delivering legal services that better meet the needs of society. The business plan is focused on the regulatory objectives in the Legal Services Act, which the LSB and regulators have a statutory duty to promote. The […]
Legal Services Board confirms interim leadership arrangements
The Legal Services Board has confirmed its interim leadership arrangements while its Board recruits a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This follows Matthew Hill’s resignation from the role in January 2024, ahead of his departure at the end of March. The existing three directors will share leadership responsibilities, while continuing in their current roles. Richard […]
SRA consults on potential regulation of CILEX students and paralegals
The SRA have launched a consultation on rule changes needed to allow the potential regulation of non-authorised Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) members. The suggested arrangements explain the rules that would apply to CILEX paralegals and students should CILEX’s proposal to re-delegate regulation to us go ahead. CILEX published a consultation on its re-delegation proposals […]
Legal Services Board announces new Consumer Panel Chair
The Legal Services Board today announces the appointment of Tom Hayhoe as the new Chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel from 1st May 2024. Tom succeeds Sarah Chambers, whose term of office ends on 31st April 2024. Sarah has served two three-year terms as Chair since 1 May 2018. Alan Kershaw, Chair of the […]
Evidence NDAs restrict access to justice, says LSB
Evidence NDAs used to cover up illegal conduct, promote imbalances of power and restrict access to justice published by the Legal Services Board. The Legal Services Board has published this morning a summary report of evidence on the use and misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), based on the experience of those who responded to a […]
Legal regulators must do more on transparency and harm prevention, says LSB
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published its latest assessment of the performance of the eight legal services regulators. The LSB is the independent body responsible for overseeing the regulation of legal services in England and Wales. In it’s assessment, which covers the period October 2022 to May 2023, the LSB has reviewed the regulators’ […]
LSB announces new appointment to the Office for Legal Complaints
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has announced today the appointment of Georgina Philippou as a new lay member of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC). The OLC is the Board of the Legal Ombudsman, and this appointment has been made by the LSB in accordance with the Legal Services Act 2007. Georgina has had a […]
SRA offers firms advice on complying with sanctions
The SRA has written to more than 1000 firms offering advice and guidance on complying with the UK’s financial sanctions regime. The SRA gathered data from a number of firms and based on the responses provided, have identified a large number of firms that had indicated they had poor controls in place. The SRA then sent out letters […]
Final call for questions for LSB Board Meeting
Final call for any questions you want raised at the LSB Board Meeting tomorrow, 23rd January 2024. The Legal Services Board (LSB) have requested all questions that you would like raised with the Board in relation to any of the items listed on their site/in their papers to be sent by 5pm on Monday 22nd […]
LSB Chief Executive steps down
Matthew Hill, Chief Executive at The Legal Services Board (LSB) has announced he is stepping down at the end of March 2024. Matthew Hill joined the LSB in August 2019 as Chief Executive and executive Board member. The Board of the LSB have started the process of recruiting his successor immediately. An interim leadership arrangement […]
HMCTS Update – Family – Updates to the probate service
The latest HMCTS email update provided coverage in the Family section on the updates to the probate service. From 18 January, probate professionals who submit probate applications on MyHMCTS must include a code from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) confirming inheritance tax affairs have been settled. MyHMCTS will not accept applications without a code in […]
SRA fine firm that failed to file workforce diversity data on time
The Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) issued their first diversity fine on 19th December 2023, for failure to supply workforce diversity in accordance with the deadline. The fine was issued to HG Legal Ltd and they were directed to pay Fixed Financial Penalty of £750 and costs of £150. The reason: “HG Legal Ltd failed to […]
SRA issues more fixed penalties
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published more fixed penalties issued as part of its new financial penalty regime. £750 fines have been issued to five firms for not complying with the SRA’s transparency rules. This follows three firms being issued with fines for such breaches in November 2023. The first fixed penalty for a […]
