SRA Handbook

Disclosure of character and suitability issues

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Version 9 of the Handbook was published on 01/04/2014. For more information, please click 'History' Above

Regulation 34: Disclosure of character and suitability issues

34.1

To be enrolled as a student, you must report to us any matters that may affect your suitability to be admitted as a solicitor.

34.2

You must also report to us any matters that may affect your suitability to be admitted during the period of your student enrolment and training contract.

34.3

At the end of your training contract, you must also certify that there are no circumstances that may affect your character and suitability to become a solicitor, such as criminal convictions.

34.4

Failure to report character and suitability issues at the stages described in regulations 34.1, 34.2, and 34.3 will be regarded as a serious breach of our admission requirements and may result in your application for admission being refused.

Guidance note:

(i)

Matters that may affect your suitability to be admitted as a solicitor will include (but are not limited to) criminal convictions, police cautions, reprimands and final warnings together with financial problems such as bankruptcy or entering into voluntary arrangements, and academic offences including plagiarism. You should read the SRA Suitability Test for our requirements on character and suitability.