Public concern about SLAPPs, often used to intimidate or threaten a journalist or critic in order to stifle scrutiny, has risen since the invasion of Ukraine.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) also received 34 reports concerning harassment and inappropriate sexual behaviour in work environments.
Other highlights from a suite of SRA annual reports published last week include that alternative business structures now make up nearly 12% of law businesses. Some 433 solicitors qualified via the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, while 5,196 qualified through the Legal Practice Course. The number of solicitor apprenticeships more than doubled from 222 in 2020–21 to 584 in 2021–22.
SRA board chair Anna Bradley said: ‘One area of particular focus, where we already have a robust programme of work in hand, is looking to conclude cases in our enforcement processes more quickly.’
