Law Update: By default

New proposals to counter the incidence of default by solicitors were due to be approved this week by the Law Society's council. These include a central intelligence network to identify firms that may be at risk, anti-fraud mortgage procedures prescribed for lending institutions and early action to be taken by the Solicitors Complaints Bureau. Special attention will be focused on firms with poor complaints records. The report also encompasses further action to ensure compliance with the solicitors' accounts rules, including more visits and follow-up checks by the society's monitoring unit.