Articles

Reflections on my time as chair (and trustee) of LawCare

by Bronwen Still, Director, Infolegal I have this month stood down as chair of the Board of Trustees of LawCare and it is interesting to reflect on changing attitudes to mental he

All Change – the New SRA Process for Firm Applications

The SRA has recently decided to revamp its processes for handling all applications for new firms and for making changes to existing firms. The applications and notifications that

SRA Guidance on Firm Closures

Reflecting, no doubt, the difficult times in which we currently live, the SRA has just published some guidance entitled “Firm closures due to financial difficulties“. Supported by

Transparency – Certifying Compliance with the SRA Rules

With an unswerving ability to choose the worst time of the year, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has in the past few days emailed the COLP of a number of solicitors firms

OLC Annual Report

The Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) has published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2019/20. It reveals that although the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has worked hard to provide bette

ICO Report and New Guidance

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published its annual report for 2019-20. Covering what the is described as a “transformative period” for privacy and data protectio

Land Registry Accepts Electronic Signatures

As of 27 July 2020, HM Land Registry has started to accept ‘witnessed electronic signatures’ – i.e. electronic signatures that enable an individual to sign legal documents, but whi

Consultation on Economic Crime Levy

Following its announcement in the 2020 Budget that it was considering the introduction of an economic crime levy, the Government has now published a consultation inviting views on

Regulation, the SRA and COVID-19

Businesses of all kinds, solicitors’ firms included, are facing unprecedented problems in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, and merely knowing whether or not the business will sur

SRA agrees SIF extension

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced that it has agreed to extend by a year the use of the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF) to provide post six-year run-off cover

Six Steps to Recovery

As the country gradually moves towards easing lockdown restrictions and businesses begin to open, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has taken the opportunity to set out w

Reforming Legal Services

A 340-page report, Reforming legal services: Regulation beyond the echo chambers, conducted by Stephen Mayson, honorary professor of law at University College London, has been publ

Conflict, Confidentiality and Disclosure

For the majority of solicitors’ practices, and for the Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) in particular, considerations concerning conflict, confidentiality and disclosur

Compensation Fund contributions reduced

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced that payments from solicitors to the Compensation Fund for the next practising year are to fall once more. Subject to SRA Bo

SRA Business Plan consultation

As part of its commitment to accountability and transparency, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is for the first time consulting on its future business plan and budget. Th

Law Society of Scotland launches mental health action plan

Following on from our item last month about mental health awareness “LawCare and Mental Health Awareness Week“, we can report that the Law Society of Scotland has launched a three-

LawCare and Mental Health Awareness Week

This year, Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May) has a particularly poignant meaning given the problems that many are experiencing as a result of lockdown and from uncertainties

Cybersecurity and Confidentiality During Lockdown

With many lawyers currently working from home, and with many firms reviewing whether they can implement more widespread remote working – even after lockdown comes to an end and we

Coronavirus House Moves Guidance Published

Guidance has been published outlining how professionals are to deal with house moves following the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The pandemic is having a substantial impact on

Business Continuity Kit from Law Society

The Law Society of England and Wales have produced a business continuity toolkit to help law firms and practitioners consider the issues they could and should be looking at when de