SRA Update

Legal Services Act progress

SRA Update Issue 7 – January 2009

Consultations

The SRA is seeking views from the profession and public in two consultations about changes being brought in by the Legal Services Act.

One sets out the information the SRA is proposing to collect from firms in 2009, following an earlier consultation last year. The other proposes a new approach to regulating legal services firms and solicitors, in particular looking at how and when enforcement and disciplinary action should be taken against firms rather than individual solicitors.

Consultation responses are required by the closing date of 31 March 2009.

Find out more

• Legal Services Act: New forms of practice and regulation (Consultation paper 15) Information to be sought from firms for regulatory risk-analysis – the practical approach for 2009
• Legal Services Act: New forms of practice and regulation (Consultation paper 16) Better regulation – a new approach to regulating legal services firms and solicitors

New forms

Potential non-lawyer partners can now apply for approval in anticipation of the changes planned to take effect from March, which will enable solicitors to go into business with other lawyers and up to 25 per cent non-lawyers. New firms wanting to set up from this date will have to apply for recognition in advance—using new forms, which are also now available. For application forms and explanatory notes, visit www.sra.org.uk/LSA.

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