SRA Standards and Regulations

Conduct of the applicant and contribution to loss

A grant may be refused or reduced to take account of: dishonest, improper or unreasonable conduct by the applicant or anyone acting on their behalf: in the circumstances that gave rise to the application; in relation to the application itself; or failure to pursue the application promptly, co-operatively and in good faith. A grant may be refused or reduced to take account of any act or...

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,...

Recovery and subrogation

Where the SRA makes a grant otherwise than by way of loan or if by way of loan repayments of the loan is waived or otherwise the borrower has failed to repay part or all of the loan, the SRA shall be subrogated to the rights and remedies of the person to whom or on whose behalf the grant is made to the extent of the amount of the grant. Where rule 17.1 applies, the recipient must if required...

Client money and assets

You properly account to clients for any financial benefit you receive as a result of their instructions, except where they have agreed otherwise. You safeguard money and assets entrusted to you by clients and others. You do not personally hold client money save as permitted under regulation 10.2(b)(vii) of the Authorisation of Individuals Regulations, unless you work in an authorised body, or...

Complaints handling

You ensure that, as appropriate in the circumstances, you either establish and maintain, or participate in, a procedure for handling complaints in relation to the legal services you provide. You ensure that clients are informed in writing at the time of engagement about: their right to complain to you about your services and your charges; how a complaint can be made and to whom; and any right...

Use of information

Each authorised body must notify the SRA (or such person as the SRA may notify to the authorised body from time to time) and its participating insurer in writing as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event no later than five business days after the date on which: the authorised body enters an extended policy period; the authorised body has entered the cessation period; and where the...

Application

These rules apply to authorised bodies and their principals.

Authority

Deleted

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...

Appeals to the High Court or Tribunal

Unless otherwise provided in the relevant statute, or rules of the Tribunal, court or of the Legal Services Board, any appeal to the High Court or Tribunal against a decision set out in annex 2 or 3, as appropriate, must be commenced within the period of 28 days from the date of notification of the decision that is subject to appeal.