This Practice Note explains the systems and controls you should consider implementing to identify prohibited personal injury (PI) referral arrangements and ensure you comply with the statutory and regulatory regime in relation to any PI referral arrangements you consider to be lawful. It reflects the SRA Standards and Regulations 2019, sra handbook 2011 and underlying statutory regime.

Not all PI referral arrangements involving payments are unlawful. See Practice Note: Personal injury referral arrangements—SRA requirements—Statutory regime—Statutory regime and Personal injury referral arrangements—SRA requirements for an explanation of the underlying statutory regime and explanation of how this is implemented by the SRA. See also Practice Note: Personal injury referrals—SRA examples, flowchart and guidance.

For guidance on generic SRA requirements relating to referral arrangements (including personal injury referral arrangements), see Practice Note: Referral and fee sharing arrangements.