The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has published some useful FAQs about handling complaints. Here is the link: https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/media/iatjbphd/guidance-scheme-rules-faq-april-2023.pdf Here are the contents chapter headings: Chapter 1 – Introduction and definitionsChapter 2 – Who can complain about whatChapter 3 – What authorised persons must doChapter 4 – When complaints can be referred to usChapter 5 – How […]
The Guidance was issued on 23rd November 2022. It relates to all solicitors, registered Foreign lawyers (RFLs), registered European lawyers (RELs) and firms they authorise and those they supervise to undertake immigration work. For the purposes of this guidance, the term 'solicitor' includes RELs and RFLs. Summary It covers: Here is a link to the […]
OFSI have issued guidance on how this will be done. OFSI is part of the UK Government Treasury which runs the UK Sanctions regime. (OFSI stands for 'Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation'.) The Guidance was issued in March 2023. Summary of Contents The Guidance sets out: • an explanation of the powers given to the […]
We don't publish most of the thanks and testimonials we get, but here is one. It is from Firas Jayyusi, Senior Consultant at Cedar White Bradley "Only a few people would have the chance to come across a remarkable professional like Ingemar. Ingemar, and his amazing team, helped me with the confirmation of my Qualifying […]
The deadline is 5pm on 31st March 2023. Contracts are planned to start 1st September 2023. This is for the following Practice areas: • Family• Housing, Debt and Welfare Benefits• Immigration and Asylum (including work at Immigration Removal Centres)• Mental Health• Community Care• Claims Against Public Authorities (formerly known as ‘Actions Against the Police etc’)• […]
We have checked out the process with the SRA. The Agreed Exemption applies with regard to the application for exemption from SQE2. You fill in the details through your ‘MySRA’ profile on the SARA website. The Agreed Exemption does NOT apply to any other exemption you are applying for – such as exemption from the […]
The SRA has issued some guidance on the situation when a client has approached a firm asking them to hold monies on their behalf, but the firm does not wish to do so. First of all it is worth pointing out that it is up to the firm to decide whether it has a Client […]
These changes will come into effect on 1st April 2023. In summary: 1 – A change to time limits for referring a complaint to the LEO (reduced to 1 year from the date of the act or omission giving rise to the complaint, or date of knowledge) 2 – Discretion to decline to issue a […]
Our lead consultant, Ingemar Hunnings, has spoken with Tim Prior, Authorisation Officer at the SRA on 22nd February 2023 to get clarification on this. Tim was quite clear in his response. Foreign Qualified Lawyers who are taking the SQE1 and SQE2 exams are exempt from the requirement for Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). This is the […]
If you are a foreign qualified lawyer from Ukraine, Russia or Belarus (and other ex-Warsaw Pact or Soviet Union countries), the set up of your legal profession, inherited from soviet days, would appear to present a problem if you are seeking exemption from the SQE2 exam on your route to qualifying as a solicitor of […]
