News release

Whistleblowers to benefit from extra protection when reporting to SRA

02 June 2026

Whistleblowers in the legal services sector making reports of wrongdoing to us can now do so while protected from the potential risk of retaliatory action from their employer.

We have been designated as a prescribed person under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA). The act protects anyone who works for or with an SRA-regulated individual or firm, where they 'reasonably believe' they are acting in the public interest when making a report to the regulator.

This includes not just SRA-regulated individuals, but law firm employees – such as paralegals, clerks and trainees - and also agency workers. Solicitors already have a duty to report misconduct to us, but this additional measure, for all who make a protected disclosure, should give non-regulated colleagues greater courage to come forward if they have concerns.

Aileen Armstrong, SRA Executive Director for Strategy and Innovation, said: 'Serious wrongdoing and associated risks to the public, sometimes only come to light when someone speaks up, but we know that the fear of damaging one's career can mean that people are reluctant to act.

'This designation is an important step in making sure anyone working within a law firm, not just a solicitor, feels safe and able to bring forward their concerns.'

Andrew Pepper-Parsons, Director of Policy and Communications at Protect, the independent whistleblowing charity, added: 'The SRA becoming prescribed is a positive move for both whistleblowers and whistleblowing more generally. It will reassure whistleblowers in the sector that approaching the regulator with intelligence will come with enhanced protection.

'The annual reports from the SRA that come with being prescribed will add transparency and accountability to the whistleblowing function.'

Solicitors and their staff with any concerns about potential misconduct can make a report to us via our Red Alert line.

The protection applies to the disclosure of information that relates to something happening now, which took place in the past, or is likely to happen in the future. Organisations designated as a 'prescribed person' can only offer protected disclosure to defined groups. A full list of designated organisations, with information on the groups to which protected disclosure applies, is on the UK Government website.

We can only accept protected disclosures related to legal wrongdoing committed by those we regulate. Reports of wrongdoing relating to others should be made to the appropriate regulator.