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Whilst it is great to see that the SDT is clearly independent and not simply an SRA lacky, far from being "...interesting to see if this strengthens the hand of those calling to hand more disciplinary powers to the SRA", it is surely much more apposite to consider whether this ill-judged prosecution should be the nail in the coffin of the SRA and whether it highlights that it is time to bring ALL legal services, whether licensed conveyancers, solicitors, barristers and Min of Justice regulated firms under a single regulator and to create a single Law Disciplinary Tribunal. This would create a genuinely level playing field.
Leigh Day's costs were said to be £7m earlier in this hearing, and the Guardian puts the bill at £10Million .......the SRA's costs will also run to seven figures and the inevitable adverse costs order against the SRA would leave the profession footing the bill for the prosecution. This is a misconceived prosecution and the officers who decided in the SRA to take this action should be held personally to account.
......WE AS A PROFESSION SHOULD ALL REFUSE TO PAY THE INEVITABLE SRA LEVY.