SRA Handbook

The register of European lawyers

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Version 9 of the Handbook was published on 01/04/2014. For more information, please click 'History' Above

Regulation 12: The register of European lawyers

12.1

The SRA must keep a register of European lawyers, which may be kept in electronic form.

12.2

The register must contain, in respect of each REL, the following information:

(a)

full name;

(b)

date of birth;

(c)

registration number;

(d)

in relation to each Establishment Directive profession of which the lawyer is a member:

(i)

the professional title;

(ii)

the professional body; and

(iii)

whether the lawyer is entitled to practise as a member of that profession;

(e)

any other legal profession of which the lawyer is a member and whether the lawyer is entitled to practise as a member of that profession;

(f)

the date of initial registration;

(g)

the commencement and renewal dates for the current period of registration;

(h)

whether the lawyer is a recognised sole practitioner, and if so:

(i)

the registered name of the lawyer's sole practice; and

(ii)

any other practising styles used by the lawyer as a sole practitioner in the UK;

(i)

the lawyer's place or places of business in the UK;

(j)

any condition to which the lawyer's registration is subject;

(k)

a note about any suspension of the lawyer's registration, or suspension of the lawyer from practice as a sole practitioner, or suspension of the lawyer's authorisation as a recognised sole practitioner, or the termination of any such suspension;

(l)

a note of any order of the Tribunal under section 47 of the SA in respect of the lawyer, and a note of any order of the High Court or the Court of Appeal striking the lawyer off the register; and

(m)

any other reasonable information, necessary for carrying out the SRA's statutory objectives, from time to time prescribed by the SRA.

12.3

Public information

(a)

Entries in the register under 12.2(a) and (c) to (m) must be available for inspection by any member of the public, except that the SRA may in exceptional circumstances and if it considers that to do so would be in the public interest, withhold:

(i)

the address of any or all an REL's places of business; or

(ii)

all information about a condition to which an REL's registration is subject or details of the condition.

(b)

The date on which an REL's registration or authorisation as a recognised sole practitioner expired or was revoked must be made available to a member of the public on request.

12.4

An REL whose name has changed may apply to the SRA to change his or her name on the register.

Guidance note

(i)

Because sole practitioners are not authorised by means of endorsement on their registration after 31 March 2012 or the date on which an order made pursuant to section 69 of the LSA relating to the status of sole practitioners comes into force, whichever is the later, the register shows only suspensions of authorisation as a recognised sole practitioner occurring up to that date. For information on sole practitioner firms after that please refer to the register of authorised bodies (see Rule 34 of the SRA Authorisation Rules).