SRA Standards and Regulations

Financial services activities

If you are a solicitor, an REL RFL or RSL you may carry on regulated financial services activities under the SRA Financial Services (Scope) Rules, provided that such activities are undertaken through an authorised body.

Commencement, revocation, and transitional provisions

Regulations 1.1 to 3.3 come into force on a date to be determined in an order made by the SRA Board. [Note: this date is 1 September 2021] Regulation 4.2 to come into force on a date to be determined in an order made by the SRA Board. Subject to regulations 11.3 to 11.7, regulations 3A.1 to 3F.4 shall be revoked on the date determined in accordance with regulation 11.1. Regulations 3A.1 to...

The investigation process

The SRA may carry out such investigations, and in doing so may exercise any of its investigative powers, as it considers appropriate: to identify whether a matter comprises an allegation under rule 1.2, or to the consideration of an allegation under rule 3. As soon as reasonably practicable after commencing an investigation under rule 2.1(b), the SRA will inform the relevant person accordingly...

Decisions to impose a financial penalty

An authorised decision maker may decide to direct the payment of a financial penalty under rule 3.1(b), where this is appropriate to: remove any financial or other benefit arising from the conduct; maintain professional standards; or uphold public confidence in the solicitors' profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons. Where the SRA recommends the imposition of a...

Decisions to disqualify a person

An authorised decision maker may decide to disqualify a person under rule 3.1(c) only where they are satisfied that it is undesirable for the person to engage in the relevant activity or activities.

Disclosure and publication

The SRA may disclose or publish any information arising from or relating to an investigation, either in an individual case or a class of case, where it considers it to be in the public interest to do so. The SRA shall publish any decision under rule 3.1 or 3.2, when the decision takes effect or at such later date as it may consider appropriate, unless it considers the particular circumstances...

Schedule 1

This schedule sets out the basis for calculating the charges payable under rule 10. The SRA will record the amount of time spent by the SRA or its agents in investigating the matter, including time spent on correspondence, evidence gathering and analysis, and report writing. The standard charges are as follows: Number of hours spent investigating matter Standard Charge Under 2 hours £300 2...

Reporting, cooperation and accountability

You must cooperate with the SRA, other regulators, ombudsmen and those bodies in England and Wales, with a role overseeing and supervising the delivery of, or investigating in relation to, legal services. You must monitor compliance with these rules, and report any serious breach to the SRA when this occurs, or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter. You must notify the SRA promptly if:...

Annex 1: Transitional arrangements under paragraph 7(3) of Schedule 5 to the LSA

A licensable body will be eligible to be a recognised body if as at 6 October 2011, it has been recognised by the SRA under section 9 of the AJA but has an interest holder or manager that is not a lawyer or a legally qualified body. It shall continue to be treated as a recognised body for the purposes of these rules and the SRA's regulatory arrangements until: such time as it ceases to comply...

Management, control, and supervision

Subject to rules 9.2 and 9.3, an authorised body must ensure that the SRA has approved any manager or owner of the authorised body under Part 4. A sole principal whose practice has been authorised as a recognised sole practice is not required to be approved separately as a manager of that practice. If the SRA is satisfied that a manager of an authorised body is not involved in any of the...