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Solicitors
SRA Handbook
Welcome
Introduction
Principles
Code of Conduct
Accounts Rules
Authorisation and Practising Requirements
Client Protection
Discipline and Costs Recovery
Specialist Services
Glossary
Investigation and enforcement
If we are investigating you
Reporting and how to report
Intervention and the SDT
PC conditions, suspension, removal from the roll
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Responsibilities of COLPs and COFAs
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FAQs: Legal Services Act and ABSs
Legal Services Act basics
What does the Legal Services Act do?
What is an ABS and how can I find out more about them?
What is an LDP?
What's happening with the Legal Services Act?
When can we set up an LDP?
Who will regulate LDPs?
Legal Services Act terms and concepts
Are sole practitioners treated differently from other firms?
I've heard that all firms need to be "recognised". What does this mean?
What do you mean by "firm-based regulation"?
Why do I keep hearing references to "managers" of firms?
Legal Services Act: Passporting – moving into the new regime
If I want to set up a new firm, what do I need to do?
Was our insurance affected by passporting during the indemnity year?
We intend to convert our partnership to become an LLP—does passporting cover this?
We were "passported"—what does this mean?
Will the changes affect the practising certificate fee and how I renew my practising certificate?
Legal Services Act: Sole practitioners – the new approach
I am already a sole practitioner but I've heard that I now need to be recognised—what does this mean?
I want to set up a sole practice. What do I need to do?
Will I get a certificate to show that I am a recognised sole practitioner?
Will it cause a problem if I have a salaried partner?
Will my approval as a recognised sole practitioner continue indefinitely?
Legal Services Act: In-house, overseas and employees
Can a claims management company employ me as a solicitor to do the initial litigation work in claimants' cases?
Do the changes affect employees of firms?
I am a non-practising solicitor working for a licensed conveyancer—am I affected by the changes?
I'm an in-house lawyer—will anything change for me?
My firm practises only overseas, and has no office in England and Wales—how does the Legal Services Act affect me?
We are a partnership with offices in Paris and London—are we affected?
Legal Services Act: Legal disciplinary practices – practical issues
Can a non-lawyer practice manager be a partner now?
Can anyone be a non-lawyer manager of an LDP?
Can my wife's secretarial services company be a partner in our firm?
Can someone who does not work in the firm be a manager?
How many non-lawyer managers can a firm have now?
How much does it cost to get approval for a non-lawyer manager?
I am a barrister, but my status is non-practising because I did not complete pupillage, and I want to become a partner in an LDP—is this a problem?
I'm a barrister considering working within an LDP. Where can I get more information?
I'm a sole practitioner. My son, who is not qualified, works for the firm. Can he be a partner?
What other lawyers can join an LDP?
Will there be compulsory training on our rules for non-lawyers?
Legal Services Act: Who can regulate me?
Can I just move my practice into regulation by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers instead of the SRA?
Would I still be regulated by the SRA if I joined a firm of licensed conveyancers?
Legal Services Act: Investment and information
Can a private equity company buy into the firm or take an option to buy it later?
Can we sell our firm to Tesco?
If your regulation now applies to everyone in the firm, are we be required to give you details of all our staff?
Is it true that the SRA will be demanding large amounts of information every year?
Alternative business structures: What will ABSs mean in practice?
A private investor wants to invest in my firm when he can but wishes to remain anonymous—will this be possible?
Can a private equity company take an option now to buy a firm when ABSs are permitted?
We are a panel firm for a leading insurance company which may want to invest capital—will there be conditions on them doing so?
Will I be able to work as an in-house solicitor for a high-street store doing legal work for their customers?
Will there be scope for firms operating with shared central services?
Will we be able to sell 100 per cent of our firm to a non-lawyer owner?
Will we be able to set up an ABS in Europe and how will this be regulated?
Alternative business structures: How will ABSs be regulated?
If the SRA licences an ABS is everyone in it regulated by the SRA?
Who will be able to regulate ABSs?
Will ABSs be able to choose their regulator?
Will ABSs have the same rules as current solicitors' practices and legal disciplinary practices (LDPs)?
Will our ABS have to comply with the SRA's or the LSB's rules?
Would I still be regulated by the SRA if I joined an ABS licensed by another regulator, such as the Council for Licensed Conveyancers?
Alternative business structures: Setting up an ABS
Can our Compliance Manager who is not a lawyer be the HOLP when we become an ABS?
Can the same person be the HOLP and HOFA?
How much will it cost to apply for an ABS licence?
I've heard that all ABSs must have a HOLP and HOFA—what are these roles?
If I want to set up an ABS, what can I do now?
Will ABSs need the same insurance cover as traditional practices?
Will an ABS licence continue indefinitely?
Will an ABS licensed by the SRA need to have a solicitor in it?
Will anyone be able to be a non-lawyer manager or owner of an ABS?
Will non lawyers be able to be owners without working in the firm?
Will non-lawyer managers need to be approved? And will it be the same for owners?
Will the HOLP/HOFA need to be approved?
Will there need to be a majority of lawyers?
Alternative business structures: What will the changes mean to me?
I am a solicitor in a CLC-regulated firm. How will ABSs affect me?
I'm an in-house lawyer—will anything change for me?
Our firm is an LDP—will we be affected by the introduction of ABSs?
Ours is a traditional firm and all our partners are solicitors—will the SRA's requirements change for us?
What happens if I'm employed by a "special body"?
Will our LDP be passported?
Alternative business structures: Keeping up to date
How can I stay up to date with all of these changes?
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