Introduction to Authorisation and Practising Requirements

Version 7 of the Handbook was published on 1 April 2013. For more information, please click "History" above.

Introduction to Authorisation and Practising Requirements

This section of the Handbook contains the following sets of rules:

  • SRA Practice Framework Rules;
  • SRA Authorisation Rules for Legal Services Bodies and Licensable Bodies;
  • SRA Practising Regulations;
  • Solicitors Keeping of the Roll Regulations;
  • SRA Training Regulations - Part 1 - Qualification Regulations;
  • SRA Training Regulations - Part 2 - Training Provider Regulations;
  • SRA Training Regulations - Part 3 - CPD Regulations;
  • SRA Admission Regulations;
  • SRA Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme Regulations;
  • SRA Higher Rights of Audience Regulations;
  • SRA Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (Crime) Notification Regulations; and
  • SRA Suitability Test.

These rules must be read in conjunction with the Principles. The Principles apply to all aspects of practice, including applications for authorisation or approval by firms and individuals and achievement of training requirements.

The desired outcomes that apply to authorisation and training are that:

  • clients and the general public remain confident that legal services provided by our regulated community will be delivered to the required standard and in a principled manner;
  • firms and individuals provide the SRA with sufficient information to enable the SRA to make appropriate judgements concerning whether to authorise, or continue to authorise, any firm or person;
  • only those individuals and firms who/that meet the SRA's criteria for authorisation (including the requirements to be suitable and capable of providing legal services to the required standard) are authorised;
  • firms are managed in such a way, and with appropriate systems and controls, so as to protect the public and safeguard the reputation of the legal profession;
  • solicitors, regardless of the route by which they qualify, have been educated and trained to a standard that clients, the public, the profession and the judiciary properly expect;
  • providers of training are authorised and monitored to an appropriate standard;
  • solicitors have demonstrated their competence to exercise rights of audience in the higher courts; and
  • all solicitor and REL advocates who wish to conduct criminal advocacy will have notified the SRA.