The Solicitors Regulation Authority held an Anti-Money Laundering Webinar covering: risk assessment areas firms are getting wrong good practice in other law firms from our latest round of AML visits how to get your firm-wide risk assessments right and make it the backbone of your AML controls. The webinar is now available to watch online…
The Ministry of Law, Singapore, has introduced the Public Defenders Bill which will establish a Public Defenders Office
The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) introduced the Public Defenders Bill for First Reading in Parliament today. The Bill, when enacted, will provide for the establishment of the Public Defender’s Office as a department under MinLaw to administer criminal legal aid. The bill provides for the appointment of a Chief Public Defender and outlines the scope…
The Scottish Government has released the results of its public consultation process into the outcomes of the 2017 Roberton Review
In 2017, the Scottish Government commissioned an independent Review of the regulation of legal services in Scotland (known as the Robertson Review). The primary recommendation from this was: “There should be a single regulator for all providers of legal services in Scotland. It should be independent of both government and those it regulates. It should…
The Law Society of Ontario seeks feedback on how to support legal professionals with succession planning
The Law Society of Ontario’s Professional Regulation Committee has launched a consultation process to obtain feedback on a recommendation from the Trustee Services Working Group to implement a mandatory succession planning requirement for licensees in private practice. The proposed plan includes the development of mandatory succession planning criteria, the creation of supports and resources to…
The consultation period for the New Zealand Law Society’s review of the statutory framework for legal services is now open
The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa welcomes the release of the Independent Review Panel’s Discussion Document. The Independent Review of the statutory framework for legal services in Aotearoa New Zealand was commissioned in 2021 by the Law Society Board to examine the regulation and representation of legal services in Aotearoa…
The Illinois Supreme Court in the United States has adopted a new judicial code of conduct
The Illinois Supreme Court has adopted a new Code of Judicial Conduct, including guidance on the use of social media and updated financial disclosures. The Code of Judicial Conduct establishes standards of ethical conduct for judges and judicial candidates The code will take effect on January 1, 2023, replacing the previous code which has largely been…
The Solicitors Regulation Authority of England and Wales has appointed a team of researchers to examine why ethnic minority solicitors are overrepresented in enforcement processes
The SRA has appointed a research team to help it better understand why there is an overrepresentation of those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds in reports made to it and subsequently its enforcement proceedings. Experts from a consortium from the universities of York, Cardiff and Lancaster, have come together to carry out the…
The Law Society of Ontario, Canada, launches initiatives to improve the career-long professional development of lawyers and paralegals
The Law Society of Ontario, Canada, has launched a number of new initiatives to improve the career-long professional development of lawyers and paralegals. The Law Society’s Board of Directors approved the new competency framework after a consultation period The new Competency Framework includes the creation of a practice essentials course which will be mandatory for…
The Law Society of Alberta, Canada, outlines new Professional Development Profile for lawyers
The Law Society of Alberta has published a new Professional Development Profile as part of an overhaul of the system of Continuing Professional Development in the province. In 2020, the Benchers of the Law Society of Alberta set out to enhance its approach to continuing professional development (CPD). One key goal is to make the…
The State Bar of California accepts revised paraprofessional recommendations
At its meeting May 19–20, the State Bar Board of Trustees accepted final amendments to the recommendations of the California Paraprofessional Program Working Group (CPPWG). Following a robust public comment period that generated more than 2,000 comments, approximately 70 percent from attorneys, the Working Group adjusted their initial proposal, including: Eliminating the ability of paraprofessionals to jointly…