SRA Standards and Regulations

Obligation to effect insurance

An authorised body carrying on a practice during any indemnity period beginning on or after 25 November 2019 must take out and maintain qualifying insurance under these rules with a participating insurer. In respect of its obligation under rule 2.1, an authorised body must obtain a policy of qualifying insurance prior to the expiry of the policy period, that provides cover incepting on and...

Insolvency of participating insurer

If an authorised body is carrying on a practice which is being provided with qualifying insurance by a participating insurer (whether alone or together with another participating insurer) and that participating insurer is the subject of an insolvency event then the authorised body and any principal of the body must ensure that the authorised body has in place qualifying insurance with another...

Monitoring

The SRA may require from an authorised body or any principal in an authorised body, information and evidence it may reasonably require to satisfy itself that the body has complied with these rules.

Service and competence

You only act for clients on instructions from the client, or from someone properly authorised to provide instructions on their behalf. If you have reason to suspect that the instructions do not represent your client's wishes, you do not act unless you have satisfied yourself that they do. However, in circumstances where you have legal authority to act notwithstanding that it is not possible to...

Cooperation and accountability

You keep up to date with and follow the law and regulation governing the way you work. You are able to justify your decisions and actions in order to demonstrate compliance with your obligations under the SRA's regulatory arrangements. You cooperate with the SRA, other regulators, ombudsmen, and those bodies with a role overseeing and supervising the delivery of, or investigating concerns in...

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...

Miscellaneous

A refusal to grant permission to a solicitor to employ or remunerate in connection with their practice any individual who to their knowledge has been disqualified from practising as a solicitor as a result of being struck off the roll; or who is suspended from practice as a solicitor; or whose practising certificate is suspended as a result of being an undischarged bankrupt.

Firm authorisation

As set out in the SRA Authorisation of Firms Rules: A decision made under rule 2.2 to refuse authorisation. A decision made under rule 3.1 to impose conditions on authorisation. A decision to refuse approval for the taking of steps specified in conditions under rule 3.3(c). A decision under rule 4.3 or 4.4 to revoke or suspend a body's authorisation. A decision made under rule 12.1 to extend,...

Basic conditions

If you carry on any regulated financial services activities you must ensure that: you satisfy the conditions in section 327(2) to (5) of FSMA; the activities arise out of, or are complementary to, the provision of a particular professional service to a particular client; there is not in force any order or direction of the FCA under sections 328 or 329 of FSMA which prevents you from carrying...

Transitional provisions

Any approval, authorisation or recognition granted under the Monitoring of Courses Regulations 1991, the SRA Training Regulations 2011, the SRA Higher Rights of Audience Regulations 2011 or the SRA Training Regulations 2014 - Qualification and Provider Regulations, will continue as if granted under these regulations. A period of recognised training entered into before these regulations come...