News

SRA Issue New QWE GuidanceFebruary 24, 2025SRA publishes updated version of its guidance entitled “Meeting our standards for good qualifying work experience” offering detailed advice to aspiring solicitors, employers, and supervisors on how best to structure and verify Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) to meet the SRA’s regulatory standards for admission as a solicitor.Read More

LSB want to strengthen ethics and the rule of lawFebruary 5, 2025LSB considers a draft policy statement about professional ethics and the rule of law which it states represents its next step in its response to an issue that it sees as being a core part of current regulatory debate.Read More

SRA issues unsolicited approaches and cold calling warning noticeJanuary 12, 2025SRA issues warning to law firms regarding prohibited marketing practices such as cold calling, door knocking, and directly targeted online messaging.Read More

SRA Probate Thematic ReviewJanuary 5, 2025SRA publishes thematic review of probate and estate administration services, recognising the significant risks these services pose to firms, solicitors, and clients revealing that firms were generally effective in meeting the needs of clients in vulnerable circumstances, ensuring matters progressed smoothly and clients were kept informed.Read More

LSB to urge AML crackdownNovember 21, 2024LSB produces draft proposals for clamping down even further on AML regulation. The proposal entitled "Consultation on Guidance for New Regulatory Objective on Economic Crime" is a response to a new legal duty placed on the LSB and the legal services regulators to ‘promote the prevention and detection of economic crime’.Read More

SRA Revises Continuing Competence GuidanceAugust 21, 2024The SRA has reissue its continuing competence guidance and series of FAQs. Here we look at the possible reasons behind this and what is required of firms.Read More

Increases to Compensation Fund ConfirmedJuly 25, 2024As expected the SRA have confirmed that contributions by law firms and individuals to the SRA Compensation Fund will be increased for the first time in five years. For individuals this will be by 200% to £90 (£30 last year) while firm contributions will increase by 236% to £2,220 (£660).Read More

SRA Again Seeks View on Proposed Fines RegimeJuly 3, 2024Once again, the Solicitors Regulation Authority is consulting on the latest proposals to issuing financial penalties to law firms and solicitors. Inevitably, the level of fines will be going up! We look at the proposals being put forward.Read More

Client Account ShortagesJune 23, 2024In the wake of the Axiom Ince case, the SRA publishes a new warning notice dealing with the duty of solicitors to replace client account shortages immediately.Read More

Improving the Effectiveness of AML RegulationMarch 13, 2024HM Treasury publishes consultation on improving the effectiveness of the MLR 2017, which place requirements onto a range of businesses to identify and prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.Read More