The SRA Handbook is no longer in effect. It was replaced by the SRA Standards and Regulations on 25 November 2019.

SRA Handbook

Interpretation and transitional provisions

Back to version 21

Version 1 of the Handbook was published on 16/09/2011. For more information, please click 'History' Above

Part 3: Interpretation and transitional provisions

Rule 10: Interpretation

10.1

All italicised terms in these rules are to be interpreted in accordance with Chapter 14 of the SRA Code of Conduct 2011, save for the following terms which are to be interpreted as follows:

CCBE

means the Council of the Bars and Law Societies of Europe;

CCBE Code

means the CCBE's Code of Conduct for European lawyers;

CCBE state

means any state whose legal profession is a full member, an associate member or an observer member of the CCBE;

European cross-border practice

has the meaning set out in rule 2.1;

Firm

means any business through which a solicitor or REL carries on practice other than in-house practice;

non-lawyer

means:

(i)

an individual who is not a lawyer practising as such; or

(ii)

a body corporate or partnership which is not:

(A)

an authorised body;

(B)

an authorised non-SRA firm; or

(C)

a business, carrying on the practice of lawyers from an office or offices outside England and Wales, in which a controlling majority of the owners and managers are lawyers;

owner

in relation to a body (whether incorporated or unincorporated) means a person with any ownership interest in the body.

practice of a lawyer of a CCBE state

means the activities of a lawyer of a CCBE state in that capacity.

professional activity

means a professional activity which is regulated by the SRA.

professional contact

means professional contact which is regulated by the SRA

Rule 11: Transitional Provisions

11.1

These rules shall not apply to licensed bodies until such time as the Society is designated as a licensing authority under Part 1 of Schedule 10 to the LSA and all definitions shall be construed accordingly.

11.2

References in the preamble to the rules being made under section 83 of the Legal Services Act 2007 shall have no effect until such time as the Society is designated as a licensing authority under Part 1 of Schedule 10 to the LSA.