SRA Standards and Regulations

Referrals, introductions and separate businesses

In respect of any referral of a client by you to another person, or of any third party who introduces business to you or with whom you share your fees, you ensure that: clients are informed of any financial or other interest which you or your business or employer has in referring the client to another person or which an introducer has in referring the client to you; clients are informed of any...

Other business requirements

You must not be a manager, employee, member or interest holder of a business that: has a name which includes the word "solicitors"; or describes its work in a way that suggests it is a solicitors' firm; unless it is an authorised body. If you are a solicitor who holds a practising certificate, an REL, RFL or RSL, you must complete and deliver to the SRA an annual return in the prescribed form....

Responsibility

Each authorised body, and any principal of such a body, must ensure that the authorised body complies with these rules. Each authorised body that has been unable to obtain a policy of qualifying insurance prior to the expiration of the extended policy period, and any principal of such a body, must ensure that the authorised body, and each principal or employee of the body, undertakes no...

Client money and assets

You properly account to clients for any financial benefit you receive as a result of their instructions, except where they have agreed otherwise. You safeguard money and assets entrusted to you by clients and others.

Managers in SRA authorised firms

If you are a manager, you are responsible for compliance by your firm with this Code. This responsibility is joint and several if you share management responsibility with other managers of the firm.

Notices

Any notice under the SRA's regulatory arrangements must be given in writing by delivering it, or sending it by post or by electronic mail, to the recipient's last notified postal or electronic mail address, as appropriate. If the intended recipient of a notice is represented, the notice may instead be given by sending or delivering it to the representative's practising or business address, or...

Power to conduct a review

The SRA may: where an administrative error in, or in relation to any decision comes to the SRA's attention, correct the error without the need to undergo a review under this Part; review all or part of any regulatory decision reached by it, of its own initiative, under this Part. Subject to rule 3.3, the SRA may review all or part of any of the regulatory decisions set out in annex 1 on the...

Education, Training and Assessment providers

As set out in the SRA Education, Training and Assessment Provider Regulations: A decision made under regulation 1.4(b) or 2.3(b) to refuse to grant approved education provider, authorised education provider or authorised training provider status. A decision made under regulation 1.4(a) or 2.3(a) to grant the application for approval or authorisation subject to such conditions and for such...

Firm authorisation

As set out in the SRA Authorisation of Firms Rules: A decision made under rule 2.2 to refuse authorisation as a licensed body. A decision made under rule 3.1 to impose conditions on the authorisation of a licensed body. A decision in respect of a licensed body to refuse approval for the taking of steps specified in conditions under rule 3.3(c). A decision made under rule 4.4 to revoke or...

Taking effect of decisions subject to review or appeal

Unless specified otherwise, subject to rule 6.2, a decision takes effect: if no application for a review or appeal is made, on the expiry of the date for bringing such an application under these rules; and if an application for a review or an appeal is made, on the date any review or appeal has been determined or discontinued. The SRA may direct a decision to take immediate effect, where it...