Misconduct

A research project suggests that socio-cognitive biases might be a factor in the disproportionate number of misconduct complaints brought against English and Welsh solicitors from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. The first report of the study, commissioned by the Solicitors Regu

The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) has warned practitioners that they must comply with its directions on foot of consumer complaints or risk being brought to the High Court. The regulator issued the reminder as it published its annual report for 2022, showing that it issued seven applica

A former lawyer at Gowling WLG has been struck off the roll for engaging in a "fantasised" sexual relationship with an 18-year-old female colleague whilst in a senior role. It is believed to be the first instance of a solicitor being struck off for non-criminal sexual misconduct at work, The Law Soc

The High Court has ruled that negligence proceedings against a firm of solicitors should be struck out due to inordinate and inexcusable delay in prosecuting the proceedings. The plaintiff had initiated proceedings in 2013 and had passed away in 2020. The proceedings were maintained by his son. Deli

The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) has secured High Court orders against two solicitors in the first use of its enforcement powers since it began receiving complaints three years ago. The regulator's second complaints report for 2022 reveals that the LSRA has made two successful enforcem

A barrister who claimed legal aid fees for an "obviously impossible" amount of work — in some cases for more than 24 hours' work per day — has been fined £50,000 and suspended from practice for two months. The Bar of Northern Ireland's disciplinary appeal committee has determined t

Aisling Ray, associate at Fieldfisher Ireland, considers the recent Court of Appeal judgment in Law Society of Ireland v Daniel Coleman. The Court of Appeal recently issued a judgment in the case of Law Society of Ireland v Daniel Coleman, which deals, inter alia, with the issue of dishonesty in pro

Fines will no longer be used as a penalty in the vast majority of cases of sexual misconduct, discrimination or any form of harassment by English and Welsh solicitors under proposals published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). A consultation launched yesterday on the SRA's fining regime

A barrister who sexually assaulted a younger colleague has won an appeal against his disbarment and will be allowed to return to the profession next year. Kevin Farquharson, who called to the Bar in 2011, was given a suspended six-month sentence in Cardiff Magistrates' Court last year after pleading

A solicitor has been found guilty of professional misconduct after admitting to falsely claiming to have witnessed a client's signatures on legal and banking documents. Cork solicitor John Moylan, of Richard Moylan & Co Solicitors, was censured by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal on Wednesda

A personal injury solicitor returned €2,000 in legal costs to a client after she complained to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) that she did not know her costs would not be fully covered by her settlement with the defendant. The complainant had settled a personal injury action for

The High Court has allowed an appeal against a decision by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal that dismissed claims of a solicitor witnessing forged documents. The court directed the Tribunal to hold an inquiry into whether the solicitor falsely witnessed the appellant’s signature and whethe

The High Court has held that the general “costs follow the event” rule applies in regulatory disciplinary matters which come before the courts. Background

An English solicitor who was fined for misconduct after engaging in sexual activity with a junior in his legal firm has succeeded in reversing the decision after appealing under the Solicitors Act 1974. The misconduct action was originally brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority&nbs

The new Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal has been brought into effect with the appointment of its 33 members. The tribunal, established under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, was expected to start its work earlier this year but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.