SRA Standards and Regulations

Application

Apart from rule 2 (Status Disclosure), these rules apply to: authorised bodies which are not regulated by the FCA; authorised bodies which are regulated by the FCA, but only in respect of their non-mainstream regulated activities; and the managers and employees of authorised bodies in (a) and (b) above, and references to "you" in these rules should be read accordingly. Where an authorised body...

Status disclosure

Notwithstanding the wider information obligations in the SRA Codes of Conduct, you must give the client the following information in writing in a manner that is clear, fair and not misleading before providing a service which includes the carrying on of a regulated financial services activity and in good time before the conclusion of a contract of insurance: a statement that you are not...

Records of transactions

Where you receive instructions from a client to effect a transaction, or make a decision to effect a transaction in your discretion, you must keep a record of: the name of the client; the terms of the instructions or decision; and in the case of instructions, the date on which they were received. Where you give instructions to another person to effect a transaction, you must keep a record of:...

Scope of service

Where you propose, or give a client a personal recommendation for, a contract of insurance, then in good time before the conclusion of an initial contract of insurance and if necessary on its amendment or renewal, you must provide the client with information on whether you: give a personal recommendation on the basis of a fair and personal analysis; are under a contractual obligation to...

Professional and organisational requirements

You must ensure that: the firm and each relevant employee possesses appropriate knowledge and ability in order to complete their tasks and perform duties adequately; and that all the persons in its management structure and any staff directly involved in insurance distribution activities are of good repute. In considering a person's good repute, you must as a minimum ensure that the person: has...

The roll and registers

The SRA shall keep in electronic form: the roll; a register of all solicitors who hold practising certificates; the register of European lawyers; the register of foreign lawyers; the register of Swiss lawyers; and a register of authorised bodies.

Commencement and application

The Solicitors' Indemnity Rules 1987 as amended from time to time shall be further amended with effect from 1 October 2023 and shall continue in force thereafter in the form annexed hereto in which form they may be known as the SRA Indemnity Fund Rules. The Solicitors' Indemnity (Incorporated Practice) Rules 1991 as amended from time to time shall continue in force only in respect of the...

Grants to defaulting practitioners

The SRA may make a grant to a defaulting practitioner who or which has suffered or is likely to suffer loss by reason of their liability to any client in direct consequence of an act or omission of: in the case of a defaulting solicitor, defaulting REL, defaulting RFL or defaulting RSL any of their employees or any fellow manager; in the case of a defaulting recognised body, any of its...

Notice to defaulting practitioner

The SRA may not make a grant unless it has given not less than 8 days' notice to the defaulting practitioner informing them of the nature and value of the application, unless it appears to the SRA that it would not be reasonably practicable to give such notice, or the grant should be made urgently. Where the SRA has made a grant urgently in accordance with rule 16.1, the SRA shall as soon as,...

Applications to the tribunal

An authorised decision maker may decide to make an application to the Tribunal in respect of a firm or an individual under rule 3.1(g) only where they are satisfied that: there is a realistic prospect of the Tribunal making an order in respect of the allegation; and it is in the public interest to make the application. Where an authorised decision maker has made an application to the Tribunal,...