SRA invites views on regulating quality in legal services
2 June 2009
The SRA is inviting views from key stakeholders on how it should regulate in the future to ensure clients obtain good quality legal services from solicitors and the firms in which they practise.
In the Agenda for quality discussion paper launched today, 2 June, the SRA puts forward a number of proposals prompted by changes brought about by the Legal Services Act. The SRA is looking to provoke a debate about the current system of ensuring quality and at any possible changes which may be necessary including the appropriate balance between the responsibilities of legal professionals and the regulator.
A consumer survey published by the SRA in 2008 revealed that some clients are unclear about what to expect from solicitors and that they perceive the process to be frustrating due to lack of communication and delays.
In addition to collecting advice from stakeholders during the coming year, the SRA intends to work with consumer groups, the profession and other key stakeholders with the aim of producing a consultation paper containing detailed proposals early in 2010.
In launching the debate, the SRA is aiming to develop a professional standards framework which will
- put the public's interest first,
- reflect the changing nature of legal services regulation,
- recognise the increasingly diverse nature of the profession,
- be accessible to the public as well as the profession,
- adopt a proactive and preventative approach to regulation,
- be in line with the principles of better regulation.
The discussion paper covers the standards of knowledge, skills and behaviours which may be expected for example in continuing professional development (CPD), accreditation and monitoring. In all, the paper asks for views on 19 points ranging from defining what is actually meant by quality, managing the environment on which legal services are provided, to individual competencies.
Dr Jonathan Spencer, the SRA's chair of Education and Training, said: "Our focus until relatively recently has been on the role and conduct of individual solicitors, rather than on the delivery of legal services. We already have some tools for promoting quality using pre-entry educational requirements, the Solicitors' Code of Conduct, the Legal Complaints Service and accreditation schemes, but no coherent framework of quality standards tailored to the needs of different consumer groups, and the risks with different types of work and practice. Much also relies on the professional approach of solicitors themselves.
"The changes brought about by the Legal Services Act, and the extra focus on consumers, together with our newly acquired powers to regulate firms, have given us an opportunity to re-examine the ways in which to regulate the quality of legal services.
"We are therefore keen to engage with the profession, users of legal services and other stakeholders, including the new LSB Consumer Panel, about the best ways of ensuring a high and where necessary, improved standard of quality.
"In particular we are seeking views on the development of a professional standards framework which will identify the standards of knowledge, skills and behaviours of qualified solicitors in the roles they undertake from as wide a range of stakeholders as possible. We have already started work on the kinds of standards we would want to see and as part of this, are planning to set up a number of discussion groups to help us in this area.
"We would welcome comments on the issues raised in the discussion paper so that we can press forward with more specific proposals for an appropriate regulatory framework."
Views should be emailed to trainingconsultations@sra.org.uk or posted to
Agenda for Quality
Education and Training Unit
Solicitors Regulation Authority
Ipsley Court
Berrington Close
Redditch
B98 0TD
by the deadline of 2 September 2009.
Anyone wanting to volunteer to take part in the focus groups can contact Sue Parry on 020 7320 5882 or email sue.parry@sra.org.uk.