SRA launches consultation on re-accreditation of solicitor higher court advocates
21 January 2009
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is seeking views on a proposal to introduce, from 1 January 2010, a mandatory accreditation and re-accreditation policy for solicitors and registered European lawyers (RELs) wishing to continue as higher court advocates.1 Re-accreditation will be an integral part of the new mandatory accreditation scheme that will replace the existing scheme.2
The consultation includes proposals to require re-accreditation for solicitor higher court advocates awarded the qualification under the new scheme, and those who have previously been awarded the qualification. The qualification is currently valid for the professional life of the holder. The consultation paper gives three options - re-accreditation, targeted re-accreditation or no re-accreditation. The SRA Board has expressed a preference for mandatory re-accreditation of all holders of the qualification every five years to ensure competency and maintain standards, but is seeking feedback on a range of options.
The deadline for consultation responses is 16 April 2009.
For more information, or to take part in the consultation, visit www.sra.org.uk/consultations.
1 There are approximately 4,500 solicitors with a higher courts qualification in England and Wales.
2 The current scheme has been extended until 31 December 2009, to allow sufficient time to consult and develop a new framework. The SRA has already consulted twice on the issue in 2007 and 2008 and as a direct result of feedback, decided to retain a mandatory, as opposed to a voluntary, approach to qualification.