The article argues that safe AI adoption in conveyancing depends on a single controlled route to client data, rather than relying on prompts or bolt-on guardrails. It sets out four functions for that route: authenticate the user, authorise access by individual permissions, minimise the data returned, and automatically record each data transfer.
This article promotes a free webinar for conveyancers on planning risk, focusing on the limitations of standard planning searches and the need for stronger due diligence. It highlights SHELAA land, evolving planning policy, and the potential professional negligence exposure arising from missed planning issues.
The article discusses a podcast featuring former footballer Neil Heaney, who became a campaigner and law firm owner after being caught up in a property investment fraud in Spain. It highlights the risks of overseas property transactions, the importance of due diligence, and the role of specialist legal support before and after problems arise.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has fined sole practitioner Bryn Roberts £20,148 after finding repeated breaches of regulatory obligations over several years, including failures in client care, complaints handling and client account management. The investigation identified a client account shortage, missing reconciliations and other issues that the SRA said created a risk of significant harm to clients.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has struck two solicitors off the roll and ordered them to pay combined costs of £89,000 after finding serious misconduct in conveyancing-related matters. The cases involved breaches of client account rules, misuse of client money, and conduct that caused significant financial harm to clients and to the profession’s compensation arrangements.
The Legal Services Board has escalated enforcement action against the Solicitors Regulation Authority, citing ongoing concerns about leadership, accountability and the regulator’s ability to respond quickly to risks affecting consumers and client money. The move follows further independent reviews linked to the collapses of PM Law Group and earlier failures at Axiom Ince and SSB Group, which together involved substantial losses of client funds.
New research cited by LexisNexis suggests AI use is now widespread across the legal profession, with most lawyers using it regularly and a minority relying on it heavily. The report also highlights persistent concerns around accuracy, fabricated outputs, confidentiality and over-reliance, alongside growing expectations that AI tools should be grounded in authoritative legal sources.
