The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations replaced the SRA Handbook from 25 November 2019.
There have been changes to the:
The SRA has created the new rules which are shorter and can offer flexibility to solicitors. On the flip side, solicitors will need to use greater professional judgement to ensure that they are complying with the rules.
Simpler = more focus on high professional standards
Flexibility = allow solicitors to work in new ways
More trust = in solicitors’ professional judgement
The Standards and Regulations are underpinned by the SRA’s enforcement strategy – solicitors have a duty to report serious concerns or breaches of the Codes of Conduct promptly.
The ways of working have also changed as solicitors can offer services directly to the public from within:
Regulated law firms
Non-regulated organisations
Non-commercial organisations, or
As an SRA-regulated freelance solicitor
Under the new Standards and Regulations there are only 7 Principles, instead of the previous 10.
The Principles apply to individuals and firms. Solicitors must act:
in a way that upholds the constitutional principle of the rule of law, and the proper administration of justice
in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors’ profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons
with independence
with honesty
with integrity
in a way that encourages equality, diversity and inclusion
in the best interests of each client
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