The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched a further consultation and proposals on client money in legal services under its wider consumer protection review, building on an earlier high-engagement consultation on safeguarding client funds and redress. The current phase focuses on practical proposals to strengthen safeguards for client money held by law firms, including improving checks and balances such as accountants’ reports and oversight mechanisms within firms. The proposals also revisit fundamental questions about the model of solicitors holding client money, how consumer protections are delivered and how the Compensation Fund operates to reimburse consumers when funds are lost. The SRA has emphasised its aim to reduce risk to consumers while keeping regulation proportionate and workable for firms, and to inform longer-term discussions on client money protections. The consultation closes on 20 February 2026.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched a consultation on new notification requirements for law firms in England and Wales as part of its Consumer Protection Review and wider reforms aimed at strengthening protections for client money. The SRA proposes introducing a rule requiring firms to notify it of specified ‘prescribed events’, enabling the SRA to collect more timely information and identify potential risks earlier. According to the Executive Director of Strategy and Policy, Aileen Armstrong, the proposals are intended to give the SRA earlier visibility of risks and support proactive intervention to prevent consumer harm, including the loss of client money.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched a consultation on proposals to strengthen regulatory requirements for solicitors and law firms that use or arrange third-party litigation funding in consumer claims. The proposals would require firms to notify the SRA when using or arranging third-party litigation funding, prepare and retain a litigation funding risk assessment, and provide clients with a summary document before they enter into a funding agreement. The consultation forms part of the SRA's wider programme to address risks in the high-volume consumer claims sector and is informed by evidence from its 2025 discussion paper, thematic review, firm declarations, consumer research and ongoing investigations.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) launched a supplementary consultation proposing two new Code of Conduct requirements for first-tier complaints handling. The first would require solicitors and firms to provide clients with a clear resolution timeline when a complaint is first notified, restating the existing eight-week timescale at the point a complaint is raised. The second would require that clients receive regular progress updates throughout the complaints process, including notification of any delays or need for further information. The consultation also seeks views on a draft Complaints Handling Requirements Statement, which consolidates existing obligations under SRA rules and the Legal Services Board (LSB)’s Section 112 Requirements into a single reference document, and on the areas to be covered in new complaints handling guidance. These proposals build on a 2025 consultation, the outcomes of which the SRA confirmed it is proceeding with, and have been developed following discussions with the LSB. The consultation closes on 1 September 2026.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched a consultation on proposed updates to its Statement of Solicitor Competence (SoSC) and Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) to reflect modern legal practice. The proposals would incorporate technology and artificial intelligence (AI) into existing competences, strengthen expectations on managing conflicting ethical obligations and raising concerns about unethical behaviour, add a separate supervision section, and introduce competences relating to health and wellbeing. FLK revisions include removing content on the scope of tax anti-avoidance provisions and adding content in property law and practice, wills and the administration of estates, and criminal law and practice. The SRA intends to publish its response and the final SoSC and FLK in April 2027, with changes taking effect in September 2027, ahead of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1) assessments in January 2028. The consultation closes on 3 December 2026.

Law360, London: The Solicitors Regulation Authority said 13 May 2025 that it will abandon proposals to fine law firms based on their global turnover and cease to hand out financial penalties to lawyers convicted of drink-driving—except in exceptional circumstances.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has a published enforcement strategy setting out its approach to enforcement, assessing the seriousness of an enforcement issue and the sanctions and controls at its disposal. It has published accompanying guidance on its approach to enforcement in the following specific areas: • anti-money laundering • competence and standards of service • criminal offences outside of practice • driving with excess alcohol convictions • social media use and offensive communications • application of SRA Principle 1 The SRA has also published guidance on: • its approach to enforcement where it considers firms have failed to take appropriate steps to look after their staff's wellbeing in the workplace—see: Workplace environment • its approach to publishing regulatory and disciplinary decisions—see: Publishing regulatory and disciplinary decisions This Practice Note explains the SRA’s enforcement strategy, including its approach to enforcement, assessing seriousness, the sanctions and controls at its disposal and its guidance on enforcement in the specific areas listed above. The SRA’s approach to enforcement The SRA’s purpose is to protect the public: • by ensuring that solicitors meet high standards,

Law360: The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) said on 23 July 2024 it would proceed with plans to treble the compensation fund contribution from lawyers and law firms amid an extraordinary surge in claims from consumers affected by the downfall of Axiom Ince Ltd and other law firms.

The SRA Handbook [2011] is the Solicitors Regulation Authority's rulebook which contains all its rules, regulations and other provisions governing those individuals and firms regulated by the SRA.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has highlighted HM Treasury’s (HMT) call for case studies to support the UK's upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Mutual Evaluation. HMT is seeking real-world examples demonstrating how the UK's economic crime framework delivers results in practice, including examples from the legal profession that illustrate the role of legal professionals in tackling economic crime. Firms are encouraged to submit examples of effective anti-money laundering (AML) and economic crime measures that demonstrate tangible outcomes, innovation, collaboration or wider system effectiveness. Case studies should ideally relate to activities from 2022 onwards, with more recent examples preferred. The submission platform will remain open until 7 September 2026.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published its November 2025 monthly update, announcing that its new Chief Executive, Sarah Rapson, has officially taken up her post and outlining key priorities from its 2025/26 Business Plan. The update notes that the UK government has announced plans for the Financial Conduct Authority to become the single professional services supervisor for anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing, with a consultation now open on implementation. The SRA also noted that potential AML breaches nearly doubled over the past year, as detailed in its latest 2025 AML report. In addition, the SRA announced a webinar scheduled for 11 December 2025 to discuss an upcoming consultation on proposals to strengthen client money protections in legal services, covering potential changes to the accountants’ reports regime and compliance officer roles. A discussion paper on high-volume claims operations remains open for feedback until 14 November 2025, examining issues such as potential restrictions on the use of ‘no win, no fee’ terminology. The update also references a Legal Services Board report reviewing the SRA’s handling of SSB Law Group Ltd, for which the SRA has accepted recommendations to address the identified shortcomings.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published its disciplinary decision in relation to a breach of rule 3.3 of the SRA Accounts Rules and Principle 2 of the SRA Principles. Onside Law had accepted $4,137,247.13 into its client account in a matter where it had provided only very limited advice and where there was accordingly no sufficient underlying regulated activity. The firm had paid out part of the sum to a third party who was not a client of the firm and the remainder in circumstances where there was not sufficient underlying regulated activity. The SRA directed the firm to pay a financial penalty of £36,517 and to pay costs of £600. The financial penalty was reduced by 30% since the firm had self-reported the conduct to the SRA, co-operated with the investigation and made some admissions in respect of the allegations.