SRA Standards and Regulations

Maximum liability of the Indemnity Fund

The liability of the Indemnity Fund as stated in Rule 8.1(c) shall in no event exceed in respect of each such claim the indemnity limit for the relevant indemnity period. All claims arising from the same act or omission (whether or not made or intimated or arising out of circumstances notified during the same indemnity period and whether or not involving the same or any number of different...

Powers of the SRA

The SRA shall hold, and have full power to manage and administer, the Indemnity Fund, subject only to: such directions, conditions and/or requirements as the SRA may from time to time issue to or impose upon it expressly pursuant to this provision, and/or such further detailed arrangements as the SRA may from time to time agree with it. Without limiting the generality of Rule 17.1, the...

Interest

In respect of any grants made under rules 3, 6 or 7 the SRA may make a supplementary grant by way of a sum in lieu of lost interest on the loss underlying the principal grant. Such interest will be calculated by the SRA in accordance with prescribed rates. Where the application for the principal grant is in respect of a failure to redeem a mortgage, the SRA may also make a grant in respect of...

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.