Independent review of SRA’s handling of Axiom Ince
Roll on Friday continues coverage of the Legal Services Board’s (LSB), independent review of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) handling of the Axiom Ince (Axiom) fallout. It revealed a catalogue of errors and missed opportunities on the part of the SRA.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “The independent review paints a vivid picture of the SRA’s inadequate and ineffective handling of Axiom.”
“As a result of the SRA’s failure to take all the steps it could or should have taken, Axiom was able to act without intervention, leading to money going missing and huge distress to their clients.
“Ultimately, it has fallen to the profession as a whole – solicitors and law firms – to shoulder the cost through a substantial increase in contributions to the Compensation Fund, which is a vital protection for clients and consumers."
The Gazette also examines the Axiom report in-depth and cites the Law Society president’s reaction.
SRA research
The Gazette reports on research published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) into understanding the factors which led to an overrepresentation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic solicitors in their enforcement processes.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “The Law Society provides support for small firms and sole practitioners through our dedicated Practice Advice Service, Small Firms Network hub and other resources available on our website. We will continue to work with the SRA and other stakeholders to ensure fairness for all solicitors.”
Autumn Budget
New Law Journal and Today’s Family Lawyer continue coverage of our reaction to last week’s Autumn Budget, where the Ministry of Justice budget rose from 5.6% to £13.8 billion in 2025-2026.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said there was no mention of civil and criminal legal aid in the budget documents, and reiterated his message that funding the justice system saves costs further down the line.
“The physical infrastructure of the courts is so poor that there are 100 emergency court room closures every week.
“In some parts of the country, criminal cases that are ready for trial are being listed to be heard in the second half of 2027, amid a huge backlog. Cases involving children being taken into care are often taking well over a year to resolve, against a target to conclude them in six months.”
Renters’ Rights
Central Housing Group covers our reaction to the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Immediate past president Nick Emmerson said: “While abolishing ‘no-fault’ evictions is a critical step in bolstering protections for renters, and we are pleased Ministers have prioritised this action within its Renters’ Rights Bill – the government must balance tenant rights with landlords’ routes to repossessions. Maintaining this balance is key to reforming the rental market.
“And we remain concerned that an underfunded justice system will hinder any progress made in strengthening renters’ rights.
“As the bill may lead to an increase in eviction hearings in the short term, it is in the interests of both renters and landlords that renters have access to legal help and that the courts are adequately resourced to handle the increasing demand.”
AI regulation
According to a report by Thomson Reuters, 49% of UK lawyers say there should be government regulation of the use of AI within the legal profession, reports IT Supply Chain.
It adds that 67% of UK lawyers believe that professional bodies such as the Law Society and Bar Council should regulate the use of AI in the law.
Employment Tribunals
Personnel Today reports that employment judges will be able to sit alone in Tribunal cases.
“We support improvements introduced which maximise the ability to utilise judicial resources. However, our primary concern is to make sure that an increasing employment tribunal backlog is tackled so that workers and employers can protect their rights and access justice,” said Law Society president Richard Atkinson.
“At its core, the Employment Rights Bill seeks to provide workers with new employment rights and remove barriers for enforcement. However, workers who are unable to access the employment tribunals in a timely manner will not be better off. If the outcomes intended by the government are to be achieved, investing in employment tribunals is paramount.”
Climate change and conveyancing
Today’s Conveyancer reports on the conveyancing market over the last 18 months and cites our Property Conference, which hosted a panel on climate change.
Former president unveils portrait
Former Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce unveiled her official portrait at an event at Linklaters last week.
She tells the Gazette that she had been inspired to go into law by her experiences of living in the United States as a teenager. She paid tribute to her family and past tutors and stressed the importance of visible role models for the next generation of people entering the profession. Her message to them: “Never give up.”
My Legal Life
Dona Awano, a member of our Conveyancing and Land Law Committee, speaks to the Gazette about her legal career.
She said: “I have been a property solicitor for about 17 years. I love the variety of work as I deal with both enfranchisement, management disputes and litigation.
“I am interested in reform and improving the system for home ownership. With my fellow members of the Law Society’s Conveyancing and Land Law committee, I get to advise the government and collaborate with stakeholders.”
Also worth a read:
- CPS to be ordered to fast-track justice for people smugglers, says Home Secretary – Telegraph (£)
- Burglary victims wait five years for justice – Telegraph (£)
- Crown court backlog in England and Wales ‘could hit 100,000 without radical overhaul’ – Guardian
- SRA pushes SSB investigation into 2025 – Gazette & SRA
- Axiom Ince: SRA takes action over improper transfer of £54m – The Lawyer
- Heidi Alexander examines the role the media played in the summer riots – News Media UK
- UK law firm accused of “whitewashing” Saudi World Cup report – Guardian
- Family court transparency pilots extend to Magistrates cases – Gazette
- One fifth of law firms fully compliant with AML rules – Legal Futures
- US election: Trump and Harris visit key states on last day of election campaign – BBC News Live