SRA Standards and Regulations

Special provisions for RELs

If: one or more of the principals of an insured firm are RELs who claim that professional indemnity insurance, or a professional indemnity fund, under their home professional rules provides the insured firm's practice with professional indemnity cover in all respects equivalent in its conditions and extent to that which would be provided under the MTC (Full Home State Cover); no more than 25%...

Approval of role holders

Subject to rules 13.2 to 13.4, the SRA may approve a person's designation as a COLP or COFA or to be a manager or owner of an authorised body if it is satisfied that the individual is fit and proper to undertake the role, in accordance with the SRA Assessment of Character and Suitability Rules. The SRA will deem a person to be fit and proper to be a manager or owner of an authorised body if...

Apportionment of periodical fees on succession

An authorised body which: has taken over the whole or a part of one or more authorised bodies; or has split or ceded part of its practice to another authorised body and wishes the SRA to take this into account in determining its periodical fee, must within 28 days of the change taking place deliver to the SRA a notice in the prescribed form.

Information return and notification events

An authorised body must complete and deliver to the SRA an annual return by the date and in the form prescribed.

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. Where you are acting for a client on a matter, you make the client aware of all information material to the matter of which you have knowledge, except when: the disclosure of the information is prohibited by legal restrictions imposed in the interests of...

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...

Service and competence

You only act for clients on instructions from the client, or from someone properly authorised to provide instructions on their behalf. If you have reason to suspect that the instructions do not represent your client's wishes, you do not act unless you have satisfied yourself that they do. However, in circumstances where you have legal authority to act notwithstanding that it is not possible to...

Complaints handling

You ensure that, as appropriate in the circumstances, you either establish and maintain, or participate in, a procedure for handling complaints in relation to the legal services you provide. You ensure that clients are informed in writing at the time of engagement about: their right to complain to you about your services and your charges; how a complaint can be made and to whom; and any right...

RELs

The provisions contained in annex 2 to these rules apply to an authorised body that has at least one principal who is an REL.

Restrictions on services provided by a recognised body or recognised sole practice

If you are a recognised body or recognised sole practice, your business may consist only of the provision of: professional services of the sort provided by individuals practising as solicitors and/or lawyers of other jurisdictions; and the services set out in annex 2 (whether or not they are also included in paragraph (a)), and if you have a notary public as a manager or employee, then...