Defending Solicitors' Rights To Practise
Following the UK Supreme Court’s judgment in the case of Hopcraft and another (Res) v Close Brothers Limited (App); Johnson (Res) v FirstRand Bank Limited (London Branch) t/a MotoNovo Finance (App); Wrench (Res) v FirstRand … Read More
On 22nd August 2025, the SRA published the findings of its latest thematic review into high-volume consumer claims, raising what it describes as “significant concerns over poor practice” among some law firms. According to the … Read More
In February 2025, the SRA published the findings of an independent study into consumer vulnerability in the legal market. The study was conducted by Professor Harriet Pierpoint and Dr Paolo Baffero at the University of … Read More
The SRA has made it abundantly clear that it will take action against any law firm not complying with its AML requirements. Recent regulatory action highlights that even if firms are carrying out the necessary … Read More
In mid-December, the SRA published two thematic reviews: one into professional obligations and the other into probate and estate administration. Both reviews followed the release of the SRA’s 2023 Annual Assessment of Continuing Competence. The … Read More
On 19th December 2024, the SRA published a warning notice to regulated law firms and professionals entitled, “Marketing your services to members of the public”. It concerns prohibited marketing practices, including cold calling, door knocking, … Read More
In November 2024, the SRA published a new consultation entitled “Client money in legal services – safeguarding consumers and providing redress: The model of solicitors holding client money” on possible changes to how and when … Read More
The SRA has published new guidance that is specifically intended to help, guide, and support in-house solicitors operating in England and Wales. The in-house legal guidance is based on feedback following stakeholder feedback on drafts … Read More
In June 2024, the SRA launched a consultation on proposed changes to its financial penalty regime. The consultation proposes changes to the SRA fining guidance that the SRA believe will help them ‘deliver a strong … Read More
In May 2024, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) published a stark warning on its website to law firms engaged in financial product mis-selling compensation claims, urging them to adhere strictly to their professional obligations. The … Read More
On 21st June 2024, the SRA issued a warning notice to law firms about the requirement to address any shortages in client accounts promptly. The warning highlights the severe consequences of failing to replace missing … Read More
In part 1 of this article, we looked at the SRA’s Risk Outlook report on the implications of AI for the UK’s legal market. In part 2, we will look at some of the specific … Read More
Perhaps one of the biggest themes of 2023 was the widescale adoption and proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in all areas of life. The rather unnerving (or exciting, depending on your standpoint) reality is that … Read More
If you have received a warning letter from the SRA warning that your law firm is not compliant with their Transparency Rules, you are not alone. The SRA is currently carrying out an “ongoing programme … Read More
On 1st October 2023, the SRA officially took over the management of the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF). This follows agreement by the SRA’s board in February 2023 to bring the SIF under their control. The … Read More
At the end of August 2023, the SRA opened a new consultation on the future regulation of Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) members. This follows formal talks in 2022 between the two bodies on … Read More
On 14th August 2023, the SRA published a report into the preparation of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) by law firms between employers and employees. The report entitled “Thematic Review: The use of Non-Disclosure Agreements in workplace … Read More
On 10th May 2023, the SRA announced a new consultation inviting input on their 2023-2026 Corporate Strategy. This builds on the current 2020-2023 Corporate Strategy after discussion with the SRA’s Board, SRA staff, and a … Read More
In March 2023, the SRA published its “in-house solicitors thematic review” following a comprehensive survey involving over 1,200 in-house solicitors. The SRA undertook a series of interviews with in-house solicitors working in both private and … Read More
On 15 February 2023, the SRA published two separate updates; one on its updated approach to fines and publishing decisions and another on the rules for post-six-year client protection against negligence claims in readiness for … Read More