Articles
The Importance of PasswordsJanuary 19, 2022Passwords are an essential part of our everyday lives and are what prevent us from being scammed, robbed, impersonated and possibly even harmed. Yet despite this, many treat passwords without the care and attention they require. This article looks at the issues involved and offers some suggestions for maintaining password security.Read More
New Guidance from the SRAJanuary 16, 2022The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published several new and revised pieces of guidance over the course of the past month or so, some of it not necessarily as easy to find as it might otherwise be. In this brief article we take a quick look at what has been published and where it can be found.Read More
Rumbles of Thunder on the Continuing Competence HorizonDecember 15, 2021Is the approach to continuing legal competence about to change and will firms be forced back into a process involving CPD hours? Possibly, if the Legal Services Board gets its way.Read More
Being Kind Could Soon Be MandatoryDecember 10, 2021LawCare research project reveals worrying levels of depression, stress and anxiety amongst solicitors as SRA considers new rules or standards requiring those in solicitors firms to treat each other with respect.Read More
Greater Support Needed with MenopauseDecember 5, 2021Following ‘menopause awareness month’ in October, employers everywhere are being urged to do more to assist women experiencing the menopause. Here we look at some of the steps that firms can be taking.Read More
Data Protection and Common SenseNovember 12, 2021Many subject to data protection legislation fear not doing the right thing. The reality of the position, however, is that in many cases data protection laws are, and are interpreted to be, far more reasonable than might have been expected. Here we look at just two examples of how data protection takes a common sense approach to the regulations.Read More
SRA Enforcement Activity of AML ObligationsNovember 11, 2021The SRA's annual report on its enforcement activities in relation to the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, AML inspections and proposals that firms should be required to pay for the AML regulation to which they are subject.Read More
Responsibilities as Trust and Company Service ProvidersOctober 19, 2021What is involved in being a “trust and company service provider” (‘TCSP’) has been receiving attention from the SRA of late and failure to get to grips with the topic could result in firms providing advice and services in breach of the relevant provisions, and so therefore illegally. In this article we look briefly at the requirements and at which firms need to be concerned.Read More
Guidance on Sanctions ControlsSeptember 22, 2021Finding that a client is listed on the consolidated sanctions controls list maintained by HM Treasury will be one of the most frustrating compliance concerns that most law firms are likely to encounter. A new factsheet from Infolegal will help firms gain a greater understanding of the sanctions controls in place within the UK, and looks at the range of controls, issues surrounding legal professional privilege, the fees and disbursements that may be charged and applying for a licence.Read More
A New Direction for Data ProtectionSeptember 20, 2021Even before Brexit took effect UK data protection legislation was at best ambiguous with the potential for confusion between GDPR and Data Protection Act requirements. Even within the GDPR, the role of Articles v Recitals was always uncertain. With these issues in mind, and to “secure an even better data protection regime that fully supports a world-leading digital economy across the UK”, the government has issued a consultation on UK data protection reform.Read More