Fall Edition
Inside This Issue:
Welcome to RACO’s Partners Insight Newsletter, wherein we showcase our current partners, their services and other essential insights. Read on to delve into articles from: FireTap Marketing, PracticeEvolve, LegalKeepers, Aquarius Reporting & Verify 365.
Featured also is word from David Green of RACO (see right), tips for law firms, service guides, and lots more…
AML Supervision Change: The FCA to Replace SRA as AML Supervisor for Law Firms
David Green
The Solicitors Regulation Authority will No Longer be The Regulator for Law Firm Anti-Money Laundering Activity
The Government has announced that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will replace the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) as the anti-money laundering (AML) supervisor for law firms, creating a single professional services supervisor.
This move is part of a wider review of the AML and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) supervision regime.
While the Law Society retains statutory responsibility under the MLRs 2017, it has delegated regulatory and enforcement powers to the SRA, which will step down as AML supervisor. The Law Society will maintain a non-essential role, providing guidance, supporting best practice, and contributing to policy development.
The Law Society has expressed concerns about the new single supervisor model but pledges full support to the FCA during implementation. HM Treasury will consult on the supervisor’s powers before any changes take effect, and there is currently no confirmed timeframe.
In the meantime, law firms should continue to follow SRA guidance to ensure compliance with AML obligations. Firms familiar with FCA regulation, such as those advised by RACO, are expected to transition smoothly to the new supervisory regime once it is established.
Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys – Law Society Guidance Update
David Green
Key Insights from the Law Society’s New Guidance on the Mazur Case
The Law Society has issued guidance following the Mazur case, confirming that the ruling applies only to litigation. Non-authorised persons cannot carry out reserved legal activities, even under supervision, but they may provide extensive support to authorised professionals.
The guidance clarifies distinctions between ‘conduct’ (tasks only authorised persons may perform) and ‘support’ (tasks non-authorised persons can assist with) across areas such as litigation, conveyancing, probate, notary services, and administration of oaths. Grey areas remain, and firms are advised to await further guidance from regulators before self-reporting potential breaches.
Practical implications observed include: clients disputing costs for work done by non-authorised persons, court challenges on rights of audience, and reports by opposing solicitors alleging breaches.
RACO will continue monitoring developments and provide tailored support to firms, updating supervision policies to align with Schedule 3 exemptions of the Legal Services Act 2007. Firms are encouraged to follow current guidance carefully to avoid regulatory issues.
At RACO, we are closely monitoring developments and providing practical guidance to help your firm adapt and stay compliant. For clients using our compliance services, updated Supervision Policies will ensure alignment with Legal Services Act exemptions.
Exciting News
We’re delighted to announce that LegalKeepers is now proudly operating as an independent legal bookkeeping company, trusted by law firms across the UK.
We’re sincerely grateful for the continued support of our valued clients as we take this exciting step forward. Your trust and partnership mean everything to us.
Whether you’re a small practice or a growing firm, LegalKeepers is here to support your success every step of the way.
When the Main Stage Fails the Back Office Keeps the Show Going
Just days before the gates were set to open, a fire broke out at Tomorrowland’s main stage. It caused significant damage, disrupted preparations, and forced organisers to rethink how one of the world’s most iconic festivals would proceed. But they made a decision and the show will go on.
That kind of resilience does not happen by accident. It comes from knowing that behind the lights, cameras, and headline acts, there are systems and people working quietly to keep everything else running. In many ways, law firms operate the same way.
When things go wrong or when things grow faster than expected, it is not always the high-profile roles that hold things together. It is the support systems behind them. And nowhere is that more important than in legal bookkeeping.
The Foundation Matters More Than the Stage
In any law firm, the work that gets seen is usually the fee earning. The case outcomes, the deals and of course the wins.
But none of that happens without financial processes that are compliant, controlled, and well-managed meaning the accuracy of client ledgers, the timing of reconciliations and the proper handling of transfers and residual balances.
These are not just background tasks they are essential. And when they are managed well, nobody notices. But when they fail, the consequences are immediate.
The fire at Tomorrowland did not just damage a structure; it put an entire production timeline at risk, and the same happens in law firms when bookkeeping systems break down, then matters stall, client confidence fades, and worst of all, regulatory risk increases.
Outsourcing Brings Resilience Into the Firm
That is why more firms are choosing to outsource their legal bookkeeping. Not to offload responsibility, but to build a more resilient operation behind the scenes.
An outsourced legal cashier is not a temporary fix, it is a dedicated professional who ensures that compliance is maintained, reports are delivered, and finances are kept under control regardless of what is happening on the surface.
This support becomes especially valuable when teams are stretched, or the firm is growing faster than its infrastructure can keep up. It is not just about capacity. It is about consistency and it is also about ensuring that when pressure builds or problems arise, your financial processes do not collapse under the weight.
Keeping the Show Running When It Matters Most
The decision by Tomorrowland organisers to continue despite the setback was not driven by optimism alone. It was made possible because the rest of the festival infrastructure was ready.
Outsourced legal bookkeeping offers the same reassurance. It means that when challenges arise expected or not there is a steady hand managing the essentials, so the rest of the firm can stay focused on what matters.
Because in every successful operation, the part that keeps things going is rarely the most visible. It is the system that works when everything else needs it to.
Always Available
Guarantees continuous services even during peak holiday seasons or employee absences.
- Tailored Support levels that adjust to your workload volumes and conform to your specific processes and procedures.
- Software Agnostic. This means we can service all manner of law firms. All we need is access to the software.
- Strong Personal Connections with outsourced cashiers who integrate seamlessly with your team, no matter where they are located.
- Cost-Effective, eliminating the need for additional salaries, training, office space, or other overheads typically required for an in-house cashier.
Specialist Legal Bookkeeping Services
- Save Time – We do the hard work so your team can focus on your business.
- Business growth – Providing actionable insight to help you grow your business.
- Fully compliant – Always compliant in the latest regulatory rules.
- Less Stress – Our proactive experts will ensure a stress-free experience.
- Access to Expertise – We’ll help you across all aspects of legal bookkeeping.
Interested in a confidential chat?
S P E C I A L OF F E R
Win 2 Months of Aquarius Reporting –Plus a Full Day with Our Experts
We’re offering RACO members the chance to win a premium package designed to transform how your law firm uses data – free of charge.
This exclusive prize includes:
- 2 months access to Aquarius Reporting – Up-to-date insights. One unified view.
- 1 full day of our Expert Advisory Service – Strategic guidance tailored to your firm’s goals. Learn more »
Make better decisions, faster – with the tools and expertise to back them up.
Get clarity, control, and competitive advantage.
Enter the prize draw before Friday, 21st November. Winner announced Friday, 28th November.
HOW TO ENTER…
TO ENTER THE PRIZE DRAW, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Move On from Your Legacy System – Without the Data Migration Headache
Most firms realise that a move from a legacy case management or document system to a cloud-based platform will provide increased efficiency, faster collaboration, enhanced security, and improved reporting. However, aside from concerns such as cost, and staff adapting to new software, one of the biggest obstacles often holding firms back from making that transition is the challenge of data migration.
Even a small high street firm could have years of data stored across multiple systems. Furthermore, if the data has not been accurately maintained, contacts may have been duplicated, some data may be outdated, and some of it will still be essential for compliance or reporting purposes. Therefore, migrating data without planning is risky, as you could lose access to key files, carry over errors, or end up with two disconnected systems that don’t talk to each other. This is where most firms are deterred by the prospect of migrating to a new system. It’s not just about what to move, but also how to clean it, how to integrate it with the new tools, and how to ensure access to anything important isn’t lost. Additionally, what will the reporting functionality look like when trying to collate historical and future data?
Clean Data, Faster Migration, Better Decisions
Aquarius Reporting is helping firms accelerate their digital transformation and avoid that trap. Our team works closely with legal practices to refine existing data and accurately migrate the necessary information into new cloud-based systems. We also ensure that firms can still access historical records when needed, ensuring they meet file retention obligations, for example, but without dragging unnecessary problems into the new platform. However, reporting is where our service really excels.
Backed by Microsoft Power BI, Aquarius makes it possible to bring together data from across multiple systems and sources into clear, tailored dashboards. Our suite of reports has been designed specifically for key stakeholders across the firm, including partners, practice managers, finance leads, and compliance teams, to provide access to up-to-date, reliable reporting that shows one version of the truth and highlights what really matters: profitability, client trends, fee earner and case efficiency, regulatory tracking, and much more.
The recent digital transformation at TWM Solicitors provides a great example of just this. Midway through the financial year, TWM switched to a new practice management system, PracticeEvolve. Our experts at Aquarius were brought in to consolidate data from both the old and the new platforms, ensuring continuity in reporting and providing the firm with accurate visibility into performance. What was the result? TWM has gained clearer insights into client value, fee earner productivity and better compliance tracking and much more.
Our Service Benefits:
- In Depth Reporting: .Aquarius delivers comprehensive, detailed management reports on Work in Progress (WIP), exception reporting, aged debt, compliance and risk management, and departmental performance.
- Compliance & Risk Management: Up to date tracking and compliance monitoring ensure that files are updated accurately and that regulatory requirements, such as SRA guidelines and AML obligations, are followed. The Aquarius system helps to identify and address any gaps in risk assessment monitoring and supervision, as well as in training.
- Power BI Integration: Aquarius is built on Microsoft Power BI, a system that offers scalable, secure, and industry-standard reporting functionalities, enhancing performance and data management. Microsoft Power BI is recognised as the gold standard in Management Information Reporting and can consolidate information from multiple data sources.
- Future-Proof Technology: Stay agile with Aquarius, as it can operate across multiple CMS platforms without costly data migrations, ensuring your firm’s long-term reporting stability. Aquarius is built using Microsoft Power BI, so your firm will remain at the forefront of legal tech innovations for years to come.
Why Choose Aquarius?
Firms can feel confident in our expertise. Our team has decades of combined experience in the legal sector, including creating, growing and managing a law firm and providing technical solutions and data insights to law firms.
Read about it here:
Case Study – Digital Transformation at TWM Solicitors.
Recently, through a new partnership with Forenzix, we expanded our capabilities even further. This collaboration brings with it advanced tools for data de-duplication, litigation reporting, and custom dashboards. Together, we provide law firms with a smarter approach to managing data, whether it involves cleaning up legacy systems, preparing for group litigation, or building reports that enhance operational efficiency and profitability.
Read more about our new partnership announcement here:
Why Power BI?
We utilise Power BI to pull everything together. That means we deliver intuitive dashboards tailored to your needs, from aged debt, WIP, client and case trends to fee earner efficiency and compliance monitoring. There is no need for static Excel spreadsheets or waiting for monthly reports. Just clear, accurate data that provides one version of the truth and is ready when you are.
Register Your Interest
If your firm is planning on a system and data migration, or is still dealing with the fallout from one, Aquarius Reporting can help you take control. Clean and accurate data, better reporting, and a smarter way to work.
No pressure and no obligations—just a quick opportunity to see how we can assist you. Please register your interest by getting in touch or booking a demo.
Revolutionise Your Firm Reporting
Let Aquarius help you transform your data into a strategic asset. Book a free, no-obligation chat with our advisory team to see how we can help: Book a Demo.
Aquarius Reporting:
Your data. Sharper. Smarter. Simpler.
When Borders Modernise, So Should Casework
This year, UK travellers will begin moving through European e‑gates once again. What was once a benefit reserved for EU citizens is now being extended to British passport holders, starting with Germany and expected to follow across other major airports. The move is designed to reduce queues, improve flow, and make border control more efficient without compromising on oversight.
It is a small but significant example of how systems once built for friction are finally being reimagined for progress. And for law firms it is a moment worth watching.
Because if borders are modernising to move people through complex systems more smoothly, firms should be asking the same of their own internal operations. Especially when it comes to the way casework is managed.
Expectations Have Shifted but Systems Have Not
For many legal professionals, matter management remains more complicated than it needs to be. Teams are dealing with multiple systems, inconsistent processes, and a daily reliance on manual checklists just to keep a case moving a number of things then go wrong tasks get repeated or documents go missing. It is a long queue of its own kind and one that staff move through slowly frustrated by avoidable delays.
In the same way that e‑gates are designed to eliminate unnecessary steps at the border, modern practice management should remove the administrative clutter that slows down legal delivery. Firms should not be navigating a matter the same way they did ten or fifteen years ago. The needs of clients have changed and so has the pace of work. The expectations for visibility and responsiveness have changed so why have so many systems stayed the same?
Case Management Should Be a Seamless Journey
The success of an e‑gate lies in its ability to keep essential checks in place while making the experience fast and consistent. There is no loss of security or control it simply uses the right tools to make the journey less manual and legal operations should aim for the same balance.
Well managed casework is not just about capturing data or hitting deadlines. It’s about giving every team member a clear view of what needs to happen next making collaboration easy and ensuring progress is visible at every stage. That cannot happen when information is locked in separate systems or buried in individual inboxes.
Efficiency Does Not Mean Cutting Corners
One of the criticisms often aimed at automation is that it removes the human touch. But in legal work automation is not about removing judgement or care. It is about reducing repetition, reducing the risk of error, and making space for solicitors and support staff to focus on the moments that matter most.
When border control digitised the process of verifying identity, it did not reduce security, in fact it improved it. It made the system smarter and more reliable. Legal operations should take the same approach.
The Opportunity Is Now
Borders are changing thus travel is changing. What used to take ten minutes now takes thirty seconds and that is not just progress it is a reminder that improvement is always possible when systems are rethought with clarity and purpose.
If border control can modernise with a clear structure, intelligent automation and visible outcomes so can the way casework is managed.
“By being reliable, responsible and reputable, we will recognise our vision to be the most respected legal technology provider by constantly exceeding expectations globally.”
The Rise of Zero Clicks: Google’s AI Overview and How It Is Rewriting SEO
What Are Zero-Click Searches?
As the name suggests, a Zero-Click search occurs when a search engine user finds the required information directly within the search results, without the need to click through to a website. Traditionally, SEO centred around gaining page one, organic rankings for specific keywords and driving visitors to the target website. With search behaviour changing, so must SEO strategies.
A Zero-Click result can appear in several formats, including:
- Featured Snipets: Displays as a highlighted box answering the users query directly
- Knowledge Panels: Summaries for business entities like law firms, practice areas, or notable figures
- People Also Ask (PAA): Think of this like Frequently Asked Questions. PAA is a function within the search results that provide clickable dropdowns offering immediate answers to popular queries.
- AI Overviews (Search Generative Experience): Google’s latest generative AI is integrated into search results at the top of the page providing a concise AI-generated summary of information. This feature pulls the information from multiple sources and includes links to the original websites.
Recent studies show that over 55% of searches now result in zero clicks, particularly for informational queries. For professional services, such as law firms, this can have a profound impact on visitor behaviour. Users may read about your expertise, services, or customer feedback without ever visiting your website.
What Does “Zero-Clicks” Mean for Your Law Firm
While the zero-click evolution will have its challenges, it also provides an opportunity.
- The Challenge: A Drop in Organic Traffic
Even sites that feature predominantly on page 1 for target keywords, may notice some dips in traditional traffic as uses find the information they need without leaving the search results page. While initially this may seem concerning, it is more about rethinking the metrics you use to determine the performance of your website:
- Traditional CTR (click-through-rate) figures may no longer fully reflect true engagement rates.
- Leads and conversions may increase through other sources, requiring additional tracking through brand awareness, direct enquiries, or phone calls, rather than through website conversions alone.
2. The Opportunity: Establishing Brand Authority Beyond Clicks
Law firms can still adapt their digital marketing goals to leverage the opportunity of featuring in AI-Overviews:
3. Content depth matters more than ever:
The old SEO phrase “content is king” still rings true and is more important than ever. Think outside traditional landing page boxes and create authoritative content and guides, relevant FAQs, and resource pages that AI can reference. Even if users don’t click through to your site, your brand will benefit from being featured in AI-generated summaries.
4. Leverage structured data and citations:
Utilise schema markup to highlight the firms core credentials, practice area expertise, case studies and testimonials to increase your chances of appearing in AI-generated answers.
5. Focus on brand trust and USP:
Remember, Google favours content that can prove the site’s E-E-A-T. Consistently updating your site with accurate, original content that positions your firm as a trustworthy source will improve your chances of appearing in AI-summaries.
6. Monitor the impact of AI:
Keep track of which pages and content sources are frequently referenced in AI-Overviews and that of your competitors. Tools that measure Search Engine Page Result (SERP) features, featured snippet appearances, and branded search mentions can help assess the visibility of your site beyond traditional click throughs.
Talk to our SEO & AEO Experts
Zero-clicks doesn’t mean zero opportunity. With the right content and SEO/ AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) strategy, your firm can stand out in Google’s AI Overviews, strengthen your brand authority, and attract high-value clients.
Partner with our team to future-proof your SEO and win the next era of search.
Linkedin Growth Pack
Why this Pack Matters?
LinkedIn is a powerful platform for law firms to showcase expertise, connect with prospects, and strengthen brand authority. But many firms underutilise its potential. Our LinkedIn Growth Pack equips your partners and staff with the tools and strategies needed to maximise LinkedIn’s impact on your firm’s visibility and SEO.
For less than the cost of a few billable hours, you’ll receive tailored training and profile optimisation that drives engagement, supports your SEO efforts, and builds your firm’s professional network.
“With an approach that is flexible, transparent and engaging, we can work as your outsourced solution or as a marketing partner alongside your existing in-house marketing team.”
TO FIND OUT MORE, CLICK HERE OR CONTACT RACO VIA THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BELOW.
The Complete AML, KYC and Client Onboarding Platform
With enhanced due diligence verification checks and source of funds analysis, confirm the identity of an individual or business and protect your firm from potential risks and sanctions by utilising our innovative AML and compliance solution onboarding platform.
About Us
Established by experienced lawyer Rudi Kesic, his vision was to help elevate the legal sector by solving the challenges he regularly faced, including anti-money laundering (AML) and compliance. Rudi wanted to craft an innovative legal technology product that had the ability to not only grow but develop and elevate the legal sector.
Verify 365 is the award-winning AML, KYC, and KYB client onboarding platform, designed by legal experts to address the specific needs and challenges of solicitors, conveyancers, and estate agents.
Verify 365 combines nine essential elements in one seamless solution: ID Verifications, Global Address Checks, Source of Funds Checks, eSignatures, ePayments, eForms, PEPs & Sanctions Checks, KYB Checks, and Property Searches.
Our software was created within the guidelines set by the Solicitor Regulation Authority and our proprietary ID Verification technology, DynamicID, ensures you achieve the HM Land Registry’s coveted ‘Safe Harbour’ status.
“Legal tech crafted by Legal Experts”
TO FIND OUT MORE, CLICK HERE OR CONTACT RACO VIA THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BELOW.
Regulation & Compliance Office provides essential support to law firms. We offer a range of services and consultancy tailored to the Legal sector, including guidance and services for regulation & compliance. We have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in managing law firms and working with them to achieve profitability, stability, and efficiency.
Reach Out to RACO
We at RACO are always at hand to provide tailored guidance to help you make the most informed and beneficial decisions. We help you understand the recurrent regulatory shifts and work with you to provide solutions. With our team of professional specialists and our renowned legal expertise, we can work with your firm to always ensure you are never left unprepared in the wake of legal changes or cyber threats.
Our goal is to become a valued and respected partner to our member law firms, providing high-quality services and solutions at all times.
If your firm wishes to review or strengthen its approach to risk, compliance and regulation, you can call us on 0203 985 8550 or email us at info@regulationandcomplianceoffice.co.uk
