SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs


Introduction

The Code of Conduct describes the standards of professionalism that we, the SRA, and the public expect of individuals (solicitors, registered European lawyers and registered foreign lawyers) authorised by us to provide legal services.

They apply to conduct and behaviour relating to your practice, and comprise a framework for ethical and competent practice which applies irrespective of your role or the environment or organisation in which you work (subject to the Overseas Rules which apply to your practice overseas); although paragraphs 8.1 to 8.11 apply only when you are providing your services to the public or a section of the public.

Conduct does not need to take place in a workplace in order to relate to your practice – these requirements capture conduct which touches realistically upon your practice of the profession, in a way that is demonstrably relevant.

You must exercise your judgement in applying these standards to the situations you are in and deciding on a course of action, bearing in mind your role and responsibilities, areas of practice, and the nature of your clients (which in an in house context will generally include your employer and may include other persons or groups within or outside your employer organisation).

You are personally accountable for compliance with this Code - and our other regulatory requirements that apply to you - and must always be prepared to justify your decisions and actions.

A serious failure to meet our standards or a serious breach of our regulatory requirements may result in our taking regulatory action against you. A failure or breach may be serious either in isolation or because it comprises a persistent or concerning pattern of behaviour. In addition to the regulatory requirements set by us in our Codes, Principles and our rules and regulations, we directly monitor and enforce the requirements relating to referral fees set out in section 56 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, and provisions relating to anti money laundering and counter terrorist financing, as set out in regulations made by the Treasury as in force from time to time.

All these requirements are underpinned by our Enforcement Strategy. That strategy explains in more detail our views about the issues we consider to be serious, and our approach to taking regulatory action in the public interest.

This introduction does not form part of the SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs.

Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs

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Business requirements

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Conflict, confidentiality and disclosure

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When you are providing services to the public or a section of the public

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Supplemental notes

Rules made by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Board on 6 June 2023.

Made under sections 2, 13, 28, 31, 32, 33A, 34 and 37 of the Solicitors Act 1974, section 89 of, and paragraphs 2 and 3 of Schedule 14 to, the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, section 9 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985 and section 83 of, and Schedule 11 to, the Legal Services Act 2007.
You are reading current version in effect from 1 December 2023

Guidance

Guidance

Professional duties during action taken by the Criminal Bar Association - Guidance

Guidance - what the SRA's Standards and Regulations require when acting for clients who may be affected by industrial action taken by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA).

Access to and disclosure of an incapacitated person's will - Guidance

Guidance: To clarify circumstances where a solicitor can disclose a copy of a client’s will to a property and financial affairs attorney.

Offering inducements to potential clients or clients - Guidance

Guidance: Understand your professional obligations and the issues you need to consider before offering inducements to existing or prospective clients.

Transparency in price and service - Guidance

Guidance: To help you understand your obligations under our Transparency Rules.

Drafting and preparation of wills - Guidance

Guidance: To highlight areas of concern and the professional obligations of those responsible for the preparation and drafting of wills.

Workplace environment: risks of failing to protect and support colleagues - Guidance

Guidance: our approach where we consider that individuals and firms have failed to take appropriate steps to look after colleagues' wellbeing.

Money laundering - Case studies

Case studies: These case studies illustrate the importance of having a consistent approach to compliance with the money laundering regulations throughout your entire firm.

Money laundering and terrorist financing - Warning notice

Warning notice: This Warning Notice reminds you of the warning signs of suspicious transactions.

Tax avoidance your duties - Warning notice

Warning notice: This reminds those advising clients about their tax affairs about the importance of understanding their regulatory obligations.

Putting matters right when things go wrong, and own interest conflicts - Guidance

Guidance: To outline certain key considerations for putting matters right when you identify that things have gone wrong through the fault of you or your firm.

Money laundering and terrorist financing suspicious activity reports - Warning notice

Warning notice: This Warning Notice reminds you of some of the key requirements to have in place adequate controls to prevent, detect and report money laundering and to make suspicious activity reports (SARs).

Reporting and notification obligations - Guidance

Guidance: To help you understand your reporting and notification obligations to us.

Referral fees LASPO and SRA Principles - Warning notice

Warning notice: This warning notice reminds you of your obligations if you have referral arrangements for personal injury work.

Bringing criminal proceedings - Guidance

Decision making: Understand how and when we may bring criminal proceedings against those we regulate.

How we gather evidence in our regulatory and disciplinary investigations - Guidance

Decision making: Understand how we gather evidence, the investigatory powers we have to gather evidence and how we can use those powers.

On-site investigations (inspections) - Guidance

Decision making: To help you understand how we make the decision to conduct an on-site inspection and what is expected from you.

Confidentiality of client information - Guidance

Guidance: To help you understand your obligation to keep clients' information confidential.

Competence standard service

This guidance focuses on our approach to investigating individuals and firms when the level of competence and standard of service falls below what we would expect.

Identifying your client - Guidance

Guidance: To help you understand your obligations in respect of identifying your client.

Q&As on the ban of personal injury referral fees - Guidance

Guidance: Sets out common Q and As on the ban on referral fees in personal injury actions introduced by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

Client care letters - Guidance

Guidance: How to write and what to include in a good client care letter.

Conflicts of interest - Guidance

Guidance: To help you to understand your obligations in relation to conflicts.

The SRA's approach to equality, diversity and inclusion - Guidance

Guidance: To help you understand your obligations on equality, diversity and inclusion.

Public trust and confidence - Guidance

Guidance: To explain when you are likely to be found to have breached your obligation under Principle 2 to act in a way that upholds public trust and confidence.

Publishing complaints procedure - Guidance

Guidance: the requirements under the Transparency Rules to publish information concerning your complaints procedure.

Advising on leasehold provisions including ground rent clauses - Guidance

Guidance: To help you understand what our Standards and Regulations require when acting for clients who are buying leasehold properties and to avoid possible breaches of our requirements.

Undertakings given by, or on behalf of, incorporated practices - Guidance

To explain your obligations when undertakings are provided by, or on behalf of, incorporated practices.

The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds - Guidance

Guidance: To help all those we regulate understand their obligations under the Money Laundering Regulations.

Claims management activity - Guidance

Guidance - Professional duties and key risks for solicitors, law firms and their employees when representing clients during claims.

High-volume financial service claims - Warning notice

Warning notice - Solicitors must act with integrity and uphold the high professional standards that we and the public expect.

Money missing from client account - Warning notice

Warning notice: Relevant to all firms and individuals we regulate but is particularly relevant to you if you are a manager of a firm or a firm's COFA or COLP.