Press release archive for 2022

The government’s financial sanctions regime now includes a ban on providing trust services to those connected with Russia.

We are consulting on a series of minor amendments to our Standards and Regulations following feedback from stakeholders since the rules were introduced in 2019.

We have announced the recruitment of two new lay members to join our Board.  

We have published our latest gender pay gap and ethnicity pay gap reports, and are continuing to encourage others in the legal sector to do the same.

We have been awarded a grant of £119,691 from the latest round of the Regulators Pioneer Fund (RPF).

We have published guidance on the financial sanctions regime to help the profession adhere to the fast-changing rules.

Solicitors have been told to guard against getting involved in abusive litigation aimed at silencing legitimate critics, known as strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).

New guidance on providing immigration services should help those solicitor firms in England and Wales undertaking immigration work.

The SRA is consulting on the arrangements and rules of an indemnity scheme that we run to provide future consumer protection for post six-year negligence.

We are consulting on proposals to improve our regulation of the Police Station Representatives Accreditation Scheme (PSRAS).

We are recruiting for two new lay members to join our Board from the start of 2023.

We have decided that existing Solicitors Indemnity Fund arrangements, as operated by the Solicitors Indemnity Fund Limited (SIFL), will be replaced with our own indemnity arrangements from September 2023.

SRA new guidance on sexual misconduct within law firms sets out what is expected from firms and individuals and what's unacceptable and could lead to regulatory action.

Individual practising fee levels for 2022/23 have been approved by the Legal Services Board (LSB).

The results for the first SQE2 assessment - taken in April by 726 candidates in 24 countries - have been released, with 77 per cent of candidates passing.

We have launched a consultation on the detail of planned reforms to our approach to issuing financial penalties for law firms and solicitors. The principles behind these changes were consulted on earlier this year.

As part of our ongoing work to consider next steps on the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF) and consumer protection for negligence claims brought more than six years after a firm has closed, we have published a discussion paper on the options.

We have confirmed that, from April 2023, we will reintroduce a requirement for solicitors without practising certificates to apply to remain on the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales.

We have commissioned independent research to take an in-depth look into the unreserved legal services market across England and Wales.

We have been approached by CILEx with an invitation to enter into formal discussions on a proposal to transfer the regulation of their members to us while retaining their distinct identity as CILEx practitioners and their route to qualification.

We have reminded the profession of its duties in light of increasing action by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA).

Following a change to legislation, our fining powers will increase on 20 July 2022. From that date, the maximum fine we can impose for solicitors, traditional firms (recognised bodies or recognised sole practices) and the individuals who work in them will be £25,000.

As the regulator of the solicitor profession and solicitor firms, working in the public interest, we are responsible for the professional insurance and indemnity arrangements that protect the users of legal services and address consumer detriment.

We have published our latest annual reports on our operational work during 2020/21. The reports cover areas including  education and training, enforcement, approval of new firms and solicitors, and the activity of the Compensation Fund. A full annual report on preventing money laundering is published separately in October.

We have appointed a research team to help it better understand why there is overrepresentation of those from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds in reports made to it and subsequently its enforcement processes.

A large number of firms have reported receiving emails claiming to be from us. Examples we have seen describe complaints about negligence claims in conveyancing.

The introduction of the SQE and qualifying work experience (QWE) last year marked a step change in how people train and become a solicitor. This new way of qualifying has opened up opportunities for law firms and in-house teams in how they train future solicitors.

The Legal Ombudsman has looked at the areas of personal injury work that generate the most complaints.

It is important that we hold accurate diversity information for all solicitors, which is why we are asking everyone who has a mySRA account to log in and check that their data is up-to-date.

We want your views on what you think are the key cybercrime risks that could affect law firms over the next year or so.

Press release: A new report shows that email remains a significant vulnerability for law firms, involved in more than four out of five of all reported cybercrime incidents.

We have announced how we intend to move forward with plans to update our approach on issuing financial penalties to law firms and solicitors who fall short of the expected professional standards.

We are reviewing the way we publish decisions about disciplinary and regulatory action and want views on the principles that will guide how information is made available to the public and profession.

We have launched a public consultation on its 2022-23 Business Plan and budget, including details of the work we plan to focus on in the coming year, continuing our commitment to accountability and transparency.

Solicitors involved in pre-paid funeral plan work – and the wider public - are being asked for their views to help shape our approach in dealing with new rules in this area.

We have for the first time published our ethnicity pay gap and are encouraging others in the legal sector to do the same.

News release: We have appointed Julie Swan as Director of Education and Training, a role which will include leading the ongoing delivery of the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination).

Following consultation on the future of post six-year run-off cover, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced that it will seek a further 12-month extension to the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF) .

We are consulting on plans to reintroduce the requirement for non-practising solicitors to complete an annual application confirming that they wish to remain on the roll.

We have updated our guidance for firms on making sure they are adhering to the Government’s sanctions on Russian nationals and organisations in light of the conflict in Ukraine.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is consulting on proposed changes to its rules that would reinforce its powers to deal with risks to clients and the public when these stem from a poor work culture in law firms.

In the wake of the UK Government imposing sanctions on Russia, we are reminding law firms of the importance of their role in ensuring all measures and restrictions are complied with.

We have been named as one of the most inclusive employers in Britain by lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality charity Stonewall in its Top Employers list for 2022. We are placed 28th on this year’s list, up from 93 in 2020.

New resources providing law firms with support and guidance on creating healthy working environments have been issued , coinciding with the publication of a review into what solicitors say about the culture in their existing workplaces.

We have commissioned new research which will take a wide-ranging look into what gaps in legal provision may exist across England and Wales, and what impact this might have on different groups of consumers.

Diversity within law firms is continuing to slowly improve year-on-year, with smaller firms increasingly more diverse than larger ones.

The results for the first ever Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) assessment are now available for candidates to access, with 53 per cent passing.

Our Board will welcome two new solicitor members – Lisa Mayhew and Nicola Williams - who take up their roles during 2022.