SRA Standards and Regulations

Cooperation and accountability

You keep up to date with and follow the law and regulation governing the way you work. You are able to justify your decisions and actions in order to demonstrate compliance with your obligations under the SRA's regulatory arrangements. You cooperate with the SRA, other regulators, ombudsmen, and those bodies with a role overseeing and supervising the delivery of, or investigating concerns in...

Client information and publicity

You give clients information in a way they can understand. You ensure they are in a position to make informed decisions about the services they need, how their matter will be handled and the options available to them. You ensure that clients receive the best possible information about how their matter will be priced and, both at the time of engagement and when appropriate as their matter...

Maintaining trust and acting fairly

You do not unfairly discriminate by allowing your personal views to affect your professional relationships and the way in which you provide your services. You do not abuse your position by taking unfair advantage of clients or others. You perform all undertakings given by you and do so within an agreed timescale or if no timescale has been agreed then within a reasonable amount of time. You do...

Cooperation and accountability

You keep up to date with and follow the law and regulation governing the way you work. You cooperate with the SRA, other regulators, ombudsmen and those bodies with a role overseeing and supervising the delivery of, or investigating concerns in relation to, legal services. You respond promptly to the SRA and: provide full and accurate explanations, information and documentation in response to...

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.

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...

Confidentiality and disclosure

You keep the affairs of current and former clients confidential unless disclosure is required or permitted by law or the client consents. Any individual who is acting for a client on a matter makes the client aware of all information material to the matter of which the individual has knowledge except when: the disclosure of the information is prohibited by legal restrictions imposed in the...

Client money

"Client money" is money held or received by you: relating to regulated services delivered by you to a client; on behalf of a third party in relation to regulated services delivered by you (such as money held as agent, stakeholder or held to the sender's order); as a trustee or as the holder of a specified office or appointment, such as donee of a power of attorney, Court of Protection deputy...

Client account

You only maintain a client account at a branch (or the head office) of a bank or a building society in England and Wales. You ensure that the name of any client account includes: the name of the authorised body; and the word "client" to distinguish it from any other type of account held or operated by the authorised body. You must not use a client account to provide banking facilities to...

Client money must be kept separate

You keep client money separate from money belonging to the authorised body. You ensure that you allocate promptly any funds from mixed payments you receive to the correct client account or business account. Where you are holding client money and some or all of that money will be used to pay your costs: you must give a bill of costs, or other written notification of the costs incurred, to the...