Practising Certificate Conditions

No person is qualified to act as a solicitor unless they have been admitted, their name is on the Roll and they have in force a certificate issued by the SRA authorising them to practise as a solicitor (“a practising certificate”).

In addition to the SRA having the power to issue practising certificates, it also has the power to impose conditions while a solicitor’s practising certificate is in force. The relevant rules in relation to the practising certificates are the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations 2019.  The regulations set out the circumstances which give rise to a discretion to impose conditions.

I regularly advise on practising certificate conditions and their effect and can advise on procedure and make representations as part of the adjudication process.

The SDT has the power to make such order as it thinks fit and can, therefore, impose conditions restricting the manner in which a solicitor practises in the future. An order imposing conditions is known as a Restriction Order.

The SDT’s Guidance Note states that a Restriction Order will only be made if it is necessary to ensure the protection of the public and the reputation of the legal profession from future harm by the Respondent.

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“Anyone who has been the subject of disciplinary action by a regulator, and in my case the Solicitors Regulation Authority, will know that the impact extends way beyond your working life. It significantly impacts your personal and family life, affecting your mental wellbeing in the process.

Who you chose to advise and represent you is one of the most important decisions you can make.

In my case, after initially representing myself, I realised that this is not an area of law where a practitioner should go it alone, I therefore sought advice from a barrister and solicitor who I understood to be very experienced in this area. Not only was I advised incorrectly, as it subsequently transpired, but they also seemed to have very little regard for the impact the investigation was having on me.

Something did not feel right and after yet another period of despair, I came across Jonathan’s details online. It is no exaggeration to say that telephoning Jonathan was the best decision I made. When I called, I was immediately put through to Jonathan’s assistant who informed me that Jonathan was engaged in a tribunal hearing and would come back to me as soon as possible. Jonathan returned my call during a short adjournment, and from that moment on, I knew I’d found the right person. Jonathan came back to me as quickly as possible because he cares and fully appreciates the impact regulatory investigations can have. It was the first time in a long time that I felt a weight lift from my shoulders.

Within the space of a week, after providing Jonthan with everything he needed, Jonathan discussed the case in detail with me, providing clear and detailed advice on my case and the disciplinary process. He put me at ease and his expertise was, simply put, outstanding. The advice he gave on the likely outcome of my case, was spot on. Jonathan is so much more than what I consider to be an unrivalled expert in his field, he is a person who genuinely cares for his clients. Jonathan “had my back” and at the same time as showing compassion and understanding on a personal level, he remained determined and committed to achieving the best possible outcome in my case. Jonathan did exactly that.

In summary, I cannot recommend Jonathan Goodwin highly enough. It is no exaggeration to say that he was instrumental in getting me through one of the worst experiences of my life”

Solicitor

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“I have to start by saying that Jon Goodwin as a person and as a professional is simply the very best you will ever have the pleasure of encountering.

As a professional he is absolutely incredible: proficient to the core, exceptionally talented, astute beyond belief and so detailed, you will believe that he has lived your case with you. I have never seen such careful consideration of the facts, such attention to detail and such in-depth knowledge of the law that applies to a case, nor have I ever had the pleasure of experiencing someone with such breadth and depth in knowledge and understanding of their speciality. Jon was always on point: there was nothing he missed and he knew every fact and every rule that applied to it.

Jon’s written and oral advocacy on my behalf were breathtaking and so powerful that I can only describe him as nothing short of a miracle and worth his weight in gold.

At the time I met Jon, I was facing a crippling dishonesty allegation that had come out of the blue after being under investigation already for over 2 years by the SRA and facing a potential strike off. I was terrified, anxiety filled constantly and unable to think or focus on anything.

Jon literally saved my life. He managed with his unparalleled experience and knowledge to properly evidence that the dishonesty allegation was unsubstantiated and had it dropped. He then managed to have my case settled by way of an Agreed Outcome which he tirelessly negotiated on my behalf to get the best outcome possible, even when I thought it would be impossible to do so.

Jon was not only exceptional as an advocate and solicitor but he was kind, caring and understanding. He actually treated me like a human being and I never felt like he marginalised any of my concerns. He was always available, always happy to explain things thoroughly and always there to ease the burden.

I would recommend to anyone facing a regulatory issue to go straight to Jon and don’t bother looking anywhere else: there is no one better, stronger or smarter to succeed on your behalf than him. Thank you Jon – I will forever be grateful for your amazing hand in giving me back my life.”

Solicitor