The Scottish Government has launched a review of the conveyancing process in Scotland, with a focus on reducing delays, cutting paperwork and increasing digitalisation. The review will be led by Jill Andrew and Professor Andrew Steven, and is intended to produce recommendations for improving the residential conveyancing model.
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 examines concerns raised by law firms and compliance advisers about the SRA’s new Rule 8.4, which is intended to separate significant management control from key compliance roles such as COLP and COFA. Critics argue the rule may be unclear, disproportionate and costly for smaller and mid-sized firms, particularly where it applies even to firms that do not hold client money.
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.
A solicitor has been suspended for nine months after the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found serious accounting and compliance failings at a sole practice, including unreliable books of account, missing reconciliations and continued operation of a client account despite known record-keeping problems. The SRA intervened, recovered client funds, and the tribunal also ordered costs and post-suspension practice conditions.
The article explains that lawful basis for processing personal data is determined once per purpose, not re-established for every AI interaction. It argues that firms should focus on documenting approved AI use and maintaining records that evidence accountability, vendor control and data flow, rather than treating each AI action as a separate compliance event.
The government has indicated that the Financial Conduct Authority will begin taking on anti-money laundering supervision for professional services firms by the end of 2028, with full onboarding expected by mid-2030. The transition is intended to be phased, risk-based and supported by consultation on the future fee model, while existing supervisors remain in place until the FCA assumes responsibility.
The Conveyancing Association has renewed its opposition to the Ministry of Justice’s proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts (ILCA) scheme, arguing that the policy would impose additional costs on conveyancing firms and ultimately on home buyers and sellers. The association is also questioning the MoJ’s process after reports it is recruiting for a role linked to designing and implementing the scheme before publishing its consultation response.
An alliance of SME and boutique law firms is urging the Solicitors Regulation Authority to reconsider proposals that would separate COLP and COFA roles from individuals with unilateral management control in certain firms. The group argues the threshold and implementation approach are not sufficiently evidence-based and could create practical and cost pressures for smaller practices ahead of phased introduction from January 2027.
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 Land Registry has updated Practice Guide 21, which covers how to prepare and complete transfer forms for complex or unusual transactions. The change clarifies that when multiple transfers are being submitted, separate applications must be prepared and lodged for each transfer.
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.
