SRA reforms 2019

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This subtopic contains guidance about the SRA’s regulatory reforms, contained in the SRA Standards and Regulations, which are in force from 25 November 2019 and replace the SRA Handbook 2011.

The new regime is the culmination of a wholesale review of the SRA’s regulatory regime, which ran from 2016 to 2018. See Practice Note: SRA Standards and Regulations.

Accessing the SRA Standards and Regulations

The SRA Standards and Regulations (also known as the StaRs) are available from the SRA website, together with a growing collection of guidance and case studies—see Practice Note: SRA Standards and Regulations—Supporting guidance.

Who the Standards and Regulations apply to

The Standards and Regulations apply to solicitors, registered European lawyers (RELs), registered foreign lawyers (RFLs), authorised firms and firms’ managers and employees depending on the context of a given provision.

The preamble to the Code of Conduct for Firms specifically cautions that the SRA may take actions against employees of a firm for any breaches for which they are responsible.

In an alternative business structure (ABS) a given section would apply to those individuals and the part of the body (where

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