SRA Standards and Regulations

Removal from and restoration to the roll

The SRA may remove your name from the roll if: following an enquiry made by the SRA under regulation 5.4: you tell the SRA that you do not wish to remain on the roll; you do not, within eight weeks from the date of the notice, reply to the SRA and pay the fee specified under regulation 5.5, or you apply to have your name removed from the roll. Where regulation 5.6(a)(ii) applies, the SRA must...

Revocation and expiry

The SRA may revoke a practising certificate, or withdraw registration in the register of European lawyers, the register of foreign lawyers and the register of Swiss lawyers at any time, if the SRA is satisfied: that the practising certificate or registration was granted or renewed as a result of error, misleading or inaccurate information, or fraud; that the replacement or renewal date has...

Immigration work

Subject to regulation 9.7, if you are a solicitor, an REL, RFL or RSL you may undertake immigration work, provided that such work is undertaken: through an authorised body; through an authorised non-SRA firm that is a qualified person under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; as an employee, for your employer or work colleagues; or through a non-commercial advice service which is registered...

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...

Practising on your own

Subject to regulation 10.2, if you are a solicitor or an REL you must not act as a sole practitioner unless your practice is authorised as a recognised sole practice. If you otherwise would be, you will not be regarded as acting as a sole practitioner and you will not therefore need to be authorised as a recognised sole practice if: your practice consists entirely of carrying on activities...

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...

Recognised training

In order to satisfactorily complete your period of recognised training, you must maintain a record of training which: contains details of the work you have performed; records how you have applied and developed the skills, as set out in the Practice Skills Standards; records your reflections on, and your training principal's appraisal of, your performance and development against, and your...

Eligibility requirements

You will be eligible for admission as a solicitor if the SRA is satisfied: you have successfully and satisfactorily completed: an apprenticeship leading to qualification as a solicitor; or the academic stage of training and the vocational stage of training; and as to your character and suitability to be a solicitor. The SRA may decide that it is satisfied that you have completed all or any...

Apprenticeships

To complete an apprenticeship for the purposes of regulation 3A.1(a)(i), you must meet the requirements set out in the assessment plan for the Apprenticeship Standard for a Solicitor (England) approved by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, or set out in the Apprenticeship Framework specified in the Level 7 Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Practice (Wales). This must include...

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...