Loading...

Communications strategy 2012

Our communication principles

Our style of communication will be

Targeted

We have identified five key audiences: staff; those we regulate and their representative bodies; training providers, students and trainees; the public, consumers of legal services and consumer groups; the political community, plus stakeholders such as the Legal Services Board and other regulators.

Communication to each of these audiences will be targeted to suit their individual needs. In particular, we will communicate with consumers in readily understandable language and avoid the use of unnecessary terminology.

Timely

Staff will be informed of developments prior to information being made public, whenever possible.

Responsive

We will actively seek the views of our audiences, listen to what they tell us about how they would like to receive information, and act on this, where possible.

Accessible

We will make our communications accessible to all groups and individuals, in line with their needs, where this is reasonable.

Open and honest

We will be open in our communications, explaining the reasons behind our actions where we can. Legal or operational considerations may require us to limit the information we are able to provide.

Proactive

We will communicate in a proactive fashion, using appropriate communication channels to provide a regular flow of information about our activities, performance and achievements.

Our strategy

Our Communications strategy supports the SRA Strategic Plan 2012.

Objective 1: Continue to develop the SRA's regulatory arrangements to deliver more proportionate and better-targeted outcomes-focused regulation in the public interest

  • We will proactively seek the views of those we regulate and take these into account when finalising regulatory arrangements.
  • We will work to raise awareness and understanding across the profession of changes in our regulatory activities.
  • We will work with those we regulate to explain to consumers what level of service they can expect to receive and what steps they can take if this falls short.
  • We will continue to strengthen relationships with stakeholders to support efforts to deliver more proportionate and better-targeted outcomes.
  • We will develop strong working relationships with key media, to promote informed reporting of our activities, to assist the public in understanding our role.
  • We will be open in explaining the reasons behind our activities and decisions, to enhance understanding of the way we work.
  • We will strive to ensure consumers are aware of arrangements made to provide financial protection and compensation.
  • We will work closely with organisations such as the Financial Services Authority (FSA), banks and other financial institutions to ensure we are delivering consistent messages about fraud and fraudulent activity which may involve solicitors and solicitors' firms, in order to protect the public.

Objective 2: Support high standards in the delivery of legal services through education and training and the operation of outcomes-focused, risk-based regulation

  • We will provide regular opportunities for stakeholders and those we regulate to contribute to the ongoing review of education and training.
  • We will make targeted information explaining our regulatory approach available to our individual audiences via a range of communication channels.
  • Where sectors of the regulated community require more information and/or discussion about changing regulatory requirements, we will provide a forum in which to deliver this.
  • We will work with those we regulate and consumer organisations to explain our new role as a regulator for alternative business structures (ABS).
  • We will make information updates and opportunities for discussion available to all staff at the SRA, taking into account their working location and any individual needs.
  • We will promote ourselves as a model regulator by delivering a consistent approach to messaging and branding.
  • We will publish regular updates on our performance in all areas.
  • We will increase confidence in our activities by publishing details of successful investigative, disciplinary and intervention activity.
  • We will educate consumers about the level of service they should expect from solicitors, firms and alternative business structures, using appropriate communication channels.

Objective 3: Continue our programme of organisational reform to support delivery of our current and future objectives

  • We will keep staff engaged, informed and updated about developments through a comprehensive internal communications programme.
  • We will always strive to inform staff of organisational announcements before these are made public.
  • We will raise awareness and understanding across the SRA of the potential benefits of reform and our move to a single site.
  • We will provide staff with regular opportunities to question senior staff about the developments taking place and what it will mean for them.
  • We will make information updates and opportunities for discussion available to all staff at the SRA, taking into account their working location and any individual needs.
  • We will ensure that our external audiences are kept up-to-date with changes within the organisation where appropriate, and will explain the benefits in terms of service delivery.