SRA Standards and Regulations

SRA Principles

You act: in a way that upholds the constitutional principle of the rule of law, and the proper administration of justice. in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors' profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons. with independence. with honesty. with integrity. in a way that encourages equality, diversity and inclusion. in the best interests of each...

Maintaining trust and acting fairly

You do not unfairly discriminate by allowing your personal views to affect your professional relationships and the way in which you provide your services. You do not abuse your position by taking unfair advantage of clients or others. You perform all undertakings given by you, and do so within an agreed timescale or if no timescale has been agreed then within a reasonable amount of time. You...

Dispute resolution and proceedings before courts, tribunals and inquiries

You do not misuse or tamper with evidence or attempt to do so. You do not seek to influence the substance of evidence, including generating false evidence or persuading witnesses to change their evidence. You do not provide or offer to provide any benefit to witnesses dependent upon the nature of their evidence or the outcome of the case. You only make assertions or put forward statements,...

Other business requirements

You must not be a manager, employee, member or interest holder of a business that: has a name which includes the word "solicitors"; or describes its work in a way that suggests it is a solicitors' firm; unless it is an authorised body. If you are a solicitor who holds a practising certificate, an REL, RFL or RSL, you must complete and deliver to the SRA an annual return in the prescribed form....

Maintaining trust and acting fairly

You do not unfairly discriminate by allowing your personal views to affect your professional relationships and the way in which you provide your services. You do not abuse your position by taking unfair advantage of clients or others. You perform all undertakings given by you and do so within an agreed timescale or if no timescale has been agreed then within a reasonable amount of time. You do...

Compliance and business systems

You have effective governance structures, arrangements, systems and controls in place that ensure: you comply with all the SRA's regulatory arrangements, as well as with other regulatory and legislative requirements, which apply to you; your managers and employees comply with the SRA's regulatory arrangements which apply to them; your managers and interest holders and those you employ or...

Cooperation and accountability

You keep up to date with and follow the law and regulation governing the way you work. You cooperate with the SRA, other regulators, ombudsmen and those bodies with a role overseeing and supervising the delivery of, or investigating concerns in relation to, legal services. You respond promptly to the SRA and: provide full and accurate explanations, information and documentation in response to...

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.

Confidentiality and disclosure

You keep the affairs of current and former clients confidential unless disclosure is required or permitted by law or the client consents. Any individual who is acting for a client on a matter makes the client aware of all information material to the matter of which the individual has knowledge except when: the disclosure of the information is prohibited by legal restrictions imposed in the...

Applicable standards in the SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs, RFLs and RSLs

The following paragraphs in the SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs, RFLs and RSLs apply to you in their entirety as though references to "you" were references to you as a firm: dispute resolution and proceedings before courts, tribunals and inquiries (2.1 to 2.7); referrals, introductions and separate businesses (5.1 to 5.3); and standards which apply when providing services to the...