SRA Standards and Regulations

Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) Regulations 2023

If you are a Swiss lawyer, you will be eligible for admission as a solicitor under Part 2 of The Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (as amended) if: you satisfy the requirements of those regulations; and the SRA is satisfied as to your character and suitability to be a solicitor.

Reserved legal activities

Subject to regulations 9.2, 9.3, 9.5 to 9.10 and 10.2(b), if you are a solicitor with a current practising certificate, or an REL, you are entitled to carry on all reserved legal activities except notarial activities. If you are an REL you may only exercise a right of audience before a court, conduct litigation or prepare court documents, in conjunction with a solicitor or barrister who is...

Higher rights of audience

If you are a solicitor or an REL you may exercise civil or criminal advocacy in the higher courts if the SRA is satisfied you have successfully and satisfactorily completed the appropriate higher courts advocacy qualification and that you have done so after the date of your admission as a solicitor or initial registration as an REL, or you are: an REL or lawyer to whom the European Union...

Qualifying work experience

Qualifying work experience must: comprise experience of providing legal services which provides you the opportunity to develop the prescribed competences for solicitors; be of a duration of a total of at least two years' full time or equivalent; and be carried out under an arrangement or employment with no more than four separate firms, educational institutions or other organisations. In...

Eligibility requirements

You will be eligible for admission as a solicitor if the SRA is satisfied: you have successfully and satisfactorily completed: an apprenticeship leading to qualification as a solicitor; or the academic stage of training and the vocational stage of training; and as to your character and suitability to be a solicitor. The SRA may decide that it is satisfied that you have completed all or any...

Vocational stage

Your eligibility to commence the Legal Practice Course will be determined according to the requirements, approved by the SRA, of the relevant authorised education provider. Subject to regulation 3A.2, to complete the vocational stage of training you must complete: the Legal Practice Course; a period of recognised training; and the Professional Skills Course.

Eligibility requirements

The SRA shall only grant an application for a practising certificate, or registration in the register of European lawyers, register of foreign lawyers or the register of Swiss lawyers if you meet the eligibility requirements in this regulation. You will be eligible to apply for a practising certificate if: your name is on the roll; and you are not suspended from practice as a solicitor....

Eligibility requirements

The SRA shall only grant an application for a practising certificate, or registration in the register of European lawyers, register of foreign lawyers or the register of Swiss lawyers if you meet the eligibility requirements in this regulation. You will be eligible to apply for a practising certificate if: your name is on the roll; and you are not suspended from practice as a solicitor....

Revocation and expiry

The SRA may revoke a practising certificate, or withdraw registration in the register of European lawyers, the register of foreign lawyers and the register of Swiss lawyers at any time, if the SRA is satisfied: that the practising certificate or registration was granted or renewed as a result of error, misleading or inaccurate information, or fraud; that the replacement or renewal date has...

Practising on your own

Subject to regulation 10.2, if you are a solicitor or an REL you must not act as a sole practitioner unless your practice is authorised as a recognised sole practice. If you otherwise would be, you will not be regarded as acting as a sole practitioner and you will not therefore need to be authorised as a recognised sole practice if: your practice consists entirely of carrying on activities...