The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has taken over management of the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF) to ensure future consumer protection for post six-year negligence claims. The new arrangements came into effect on 1 October 2023. The SRA-run scheme will provide ongoing protection for clients and ensure efficient and effective operation. A new claim form with…
Lawyers as money laundering enablers? An evolving and contentious relationship
Levi, M. (2022). Lawyers as money laundering enablers? An evolving and contentious relationship. Global Crime, 23(2), 126-147. Using limited datasets and case studies drawn from the Global North and South, this article critically considers the available evidence about the involvement of lawyers in elite money laundering and attempts to control their involvement. In addition to lawyers’ lobbying…
Access to justice and legal services regulatory reform
Sandefur, R. L., & Denne, E. (2022). Access to justice and legal services regulatory reform. Annual Review of Law and Social Science, 18, 27-42. Researchers have launched a new era of studies exploring relationships between legal services regulation and access to justice. These scholarly developments respond to recent changes in how Anglo-American jurisdictions regulate the practice of…
IAALS publishes series on what it takes to reach minimum lawyer competence
IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, has published a series on what is required for minimum competency as a lawyer. The study identifies 12 interlocking “building blocks” that define minimum competence in the legal profession and how current licensing systems must be improved to reflect what new lawyers actually do…
Group of regulators and representative bodies join UK government’s taskforce aiming to clamp down on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPS)
A group of regulators, including the Solicitors Regulation Authority, Bar Standards Board, Law Society and Bar Council have joined a UK government taskforce formed to address strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and protect public interest journalism. The taskforce includes legal regulators, representative bodies, media organizations, and free speech organizations. It aims to commission research…
2Civillity in Illinois, USA, provides a ‘how to’ guide for using AI as a lawyer
2Civility has published a how to guide for lawyers interested in getting started using generative AI such as ChatGPT. This guide includes a step by step guide on how to access ChatGPT on both desktop and mobile devices. The guide then explores effective ChatGPT prompts for summarising content, drafting litigation and drafting marketing content. The…
AI is increasingly important in law firms, but does it have a place in law schools?
In the legal profession, the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT remains uncertain. Law schools and faculty members are currently grappling with the decision of whether to allow students to use these AI applications in their coursework. While AI is already deeply integrated into legal practice, generative AI goes beyond traditional tools…
Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner issues access to justice policy statement
The Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner has issued an access to justice policy statement. This policy statement is a statement of intent, articulating the VLSB+Cs role in supporting access to justice. The Policy statement notes the role of the VLSB+Cs as a regulator, funder and investor in access to justice, as well as providing…
New US legal admissions pipeline helps initially rejected applicants to become law students
In the US 22 law schools have developed a new admissions pipeline, ‘LexPostBacc’, specifically for prospective students who were initially rejected during the admissions process. This year-long program offered by these law schools aims to prepare aspiring lawyers, particularly minorities candidates, for the rigors of legal education. Participants must either be from an underrepresented ethnic…
The Solicitors Regulation Authority consults on regulating CILEX members
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has launched a consultation on regulating the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) members. The consultation comes after CILEX proposed re-delegating the regulation of its members from its current regulator, CILEX Regulation, to the SRA last year. The SRA has identified some benefits for consumers that would arise from regulating CILEX…