The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published details of its July 2025 anti-money laundering and sanctions data collection exercise. All regulated firms will be required to provide information on: (1) the work they conduct under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017, SI 2017/692; (2) any contact or involvement with the sanctions regime; and (3) the submission of suspicious activity reports to the National Crime Agency.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published the details of the first fixed penalty notices issued under the new financial penalty regime. Three £750 fines have been issued to three firms for failure to comply with the transparency rules. The new regime allows the SRA to fine firms up to £1,500 for subsequent breaches within 3 years or continuation of the first breach.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published a discussion paper seeking views on reforms to high-volume consumer claims practices. The paper identifies five key challenges: (1) improving transparency and clarity for consumers regarding their claims; (2) managing risks associated with third-party litigation funding; (3) ensuring after-the-event insurance meets consumer needs; (4) adapting regulation to reflect market changes; and (5) delivering broader systemic improvements. The SRA is currently investigating 76 law firms involved in high-volume consumer claims and has requested mandatory compliance declarations from over 500 additional firms. Responses are sought by 14 November 2025, with specific policy proposals expected to be consulted on in 2026.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published comprehensive data on Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) performance covering eight SQE1 and 12 SQE2 assessments between November 2021 and July 2025, encompassing over 30,000 candidates assessed in 50 countries. The analysis shows first-time pass rates ranging from 46% to 60% for SQE1 and 69% to 84% for SQE2, with overall pass rates of 66% and 85% respectively. A multivariate analysis by Kaplan, the SQE assessment provider, identifies university ranking and degree classification as the main performance factors, accounting for approximately 23% of variance in SQE1 scores. The SRA has also published a specific report on neurodiverse candidates, finding that those with reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent conditions achieved slightly higher scores and pass rates than other candidates, providing assurance they are not disadvantaged. The data reveals solicitor apprentices perform particularly well, with pass rates of 71% for SQE1 and 93% for SQE2, and are more likely to come from less privileged socio-economic backgrounds than the wider cohort.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published guidance on anti-money laundering (AML) policies, controls and procedures under regulation 19 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. It sets expectations on documenting, tailoring, reviewing and monitoring AML arrangements, identifies common gaps from 2,241 reviews over three years and includes a checklist and file-review template for regulated firms.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published new guidance for law firms on how best to comply with legal and regulatory obligations relating to risk exposure and the UK’s sanctions regime. The SRA has specified that the guidance is ‘a living document’ and will be updated from time to time. The guidance covers topics such as who may be at risk of becoming involved in a sanctions breach, the importance of firm-wide risk assessments, and how best to complete a risk assessment.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published guidance on terminating client retainers, clarifying the circumstances in which solicitors and firms may end existing client relationships. The guidance confirms that under common law, solicitors require both a 'good reason' and must provide 'reasonable notice' to terminate retainers, which are considered entire contracts to conduct matters to conclusion. Examples of good reason include conflicts of interest, money laundering compliance obligations, breakdown in trust and confidence, offensive or discriminatory client behaviour and failure to pay reasonable costs or disbursements.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published an implementation plan outlining how it will comply with binding directions issued by the Legal Services Board (LSB). The directions, published in May 2025, require the SRA to address its regulatory approach, following suspected fraud at Axiom Ince. The SRA’s implementation plan sets out measures to deliver against the LSB’s directions across six priority areas: (1) governance; (2) risk management; (3) authorisation; (4) client money protection; (5) the oversight of firm sales, mergers and acquisitions; and (6) pre-intervention processes. The SRA has already begun a consumer protection review, carried out spot checks to assess compliance with the Accounts Rules, and is establishing a dedicated investigations team focused on proactive investigations and high-profile matters.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published its findings following a thematic review of in-house solicitors. The SRA considered more than 1,200 survey responses from in-house lawyers, conducted interviews with in-house solicitors in the public and private sector and met with stakeholders in the in-house sector. The report highlights the role of in-house solicitors in maintaining ethical and regulatory standards within their organisations. It also states that in-house solicitors play a crucial role in helping organisations behave legally, fairly, and ethically.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published four new pieces of draft guidance for in-house solicitors in England and Wales. These cover areas including advice for employers on an in-house solicitor's professional obligations, handling internal investigations, identifying in-house clients, and reporting concerns of employer wrongdoing. The latter two pages have been published alongside draft case studies illustrating how the guidance can be applied. The SRA welcomes feedback on its draft materials until 19 April 2024. Final copies will be published later in 2024.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published a report assessing data from the first four years of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), showing that more than 19,000 candidates have passed SQE1 and over 10,000 have passed SQE2. The report highlights that the SQE is attracting a diverse range of candidates, with 35% identifying as Asian, Asian British, Black or Black British and 38% from less privileged backgrounds and finds that previous education and past academic achievement have the greatest impact on SQE1 performance. Analysis by Kaplan also shows neurodivergent candidates achieved slightly higher scores and pass rates, while solicitor apprentices have generally performed well compared with overall pass rates.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed it will proceed with reforms to strengthen requirements on first-tier complaints handling. Following consultation, the SRA will seek formal approval from the Legal Services Board (LSB) for rule changes designed to align with the LSB’s statutory requirements under section 112 of the Legal Services Act 2007, due to take effect in November 2025.