SRA Standards and Regulations

Authorised training providers

Only an authorised training provider may provide a period of recognised training to trainees. An organisation may apply for authorisation as an authorised training provider and its application must demonstrate that it will meet the requirements of regulations 3 to 5 below. The SRA may, in relation to an application for approval or authorisation: grant the application, subject to such...

Training principals

The training principal for an authorised training provider must: be a solicitor holding a current practising certificate or be a practising barrister; notify the SRA in the prescribed form before any individual commences a period of recognised training or if this is not possible then as soon as practicable thereafter; ensure that the training provided meets the requirements of regulation 4;...

Monitoring and inspection

In order to protect and promote the standards of legal education and training, the SRA may: monitor the relevant programmes of study provided by an approved education provider and an authorised education provider, the training provided by an authorised training provider or the assessments provided by an assessment provider approved under regulation 6; visit the provider's premises, at such...

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...

Higher rights of audience assessment providers

Only an organisation appointed by the SRA may provide assessments in higher courts civil advocacy and higher courts criminal advocacy conferring a higher courts advocacy qualification. The appointment assessment provider must pay to the SRA such fee as may be prescribed for each candidate undertaking the higher courts advocacy qualification. From 1 October 2025, only the appointed assessment...

Eligibility requirements

The SRA shall only grant an application for a practising certificate, or registration in the register of European lawyers, register of foreign lawyers or the register of Swiss lawyers if you meet the eligibility requirements in this regulation. You will be eligible to apply for a practising certificate if: your name is on the roll; and you are not suspended from practice as a solicitor....

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...

Practising on your own

Subject to regulation 10.2, if you are a solicitor or an REL you must not act as a sole practitioner unless your practice is authorised as a recognised sole practice. If you otherwise would be, you will not be regarded as acting as a sole practitioner and you will not therefore need to be authorised as a recognised sole practice if: your practice consists entirely of carrying on activities...

Revocation and expiry

The SRA may revoke a practising certificate, or withdraw registration in the register of European lawyers, the register of foreign lawyers and the register of Swiss lawyers at any time, if the SRA is satisfied: that the practising certificate or registration was granted or renewed as a result of error, misleading or inaccurate information, or fraud; that the replacement or renewal date has...

Higher rights of audience

If you are a solicitor or an REL you may exercise civil or criminal advocacy in the higher courts if the SRA is satisfied you have successfully and satisfactorily completed the appropriate higher courts advocacy qualification and that you have done so after the date of your admission as a solicitor or initial registration as an REL, or you are: an REL or lawyer to whom the European Union...