SRA Standards and Regulations

Police Station Representative Accreditation Scheme assessment providers

Only an organisation approved by the SRA may provide assessments for the Police Station Representative Accreditation Scheme. An organisation may apply to the SRA in such manner as may be prescribed to be approved to provide such assessments. The SRA may, in relation to an application for approval: grant the application, subject to such conditions as it considers appropriate; or refuse the...

Operation of a client's own account

If, in the course of practice, you operate a client's own account as signatory, Part 2 of these rules does not apply save for: rule 8.2 - statements from banks, building societies and other financial institutions; rule 8.3 - reconciliations; rule 8.4 - bills and notifications of costs.

Third party managed accounts

You may enter into arrangements with a client to use a third party managed account for the purpose of receiving payments from or on behalf of, or making payments to or on behalf of, the client in respect of regulated services delivered by you to the client, only if: use of the account does not result in you receiving or holding the client's money; and you take reasonable steps to ensure,...

Residual balances

The SRA may use any funds which remain in a statutory trust account following the distribution to beneficiaries under rule 7 to reimburse any costs, charges, or other expenses, which it has incurred in establishing the beneficial entitlements to the statutory trust monies and in distributing the monies accordingly. If funds remain in a statutory trust account after payment to beneficiaries and...

Conflict of interests

You do not act if there is an own interest conflict or a significant risk of such a conflict. You do not act in relation to a matter or a particular aspect of it if you have a conflict of interest or a significant risk of such a conflict in relation to that matter or aspect of it, unless: the clients have a substantially common interest in relation to the matter or the aspect of it, as...

Applications

An application made under the SRA's regulatory arrangements must be made in writing, where appropriate, in the prescribed form correctly completed, and be accompanied by: any prescribed fee or charge; and any information and documents which may be prescribed, or reasonably requested by the SRA. If you make an application to the SRA, you do not need to submit all payments, information, and...

Firm authorisation

As set out in the SRA Authorisation of Firms Rules: A decision made under rule 2.2 to refuse authorisation. A decision made under rule 3.1 to impose conditions on authorisation. A decision to refuse approval for the taking of steps specified in conditions under rule 3.3(c). A decision under rule 4.3 or 4.4 to revoke or suspend a body's authorisation. A decision made under rule 12.1 to extend,...

Criminal conduct

The SRA will consider criminal conduct when assessing your character and suitability, in accordance with Table 1 below, subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order) 1975 and bearing in mind the public interest in supporting the rehabilitation of offenders. For the avoidance of doubt, Table 1 is a non-exhaustive list. Table...

Eligibility for admission

You will be eligible for admission as a solicitor if the SRA is satisfied: you have successfully and satisfactorily passed an assessment which is designed to assess your competence against the prescribed competences for solicitors and is conducted by an assessment organisation appointed by the SRA for the purpose; you hold a degree or qualifications or experience which the SRA is satisfied are...

Academic stage

Your eligibility to commence the academic stage of training will be determined according to the requirements, which may be approved by the SRA, of the relevant approved education provider. You may be entitled to credit for prior certified or experiential learning, which may entitle you to exemption from assessment in some subjects required by the Joint Statement. You must make any application...