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  2. For law professionals
  3. Firm-based authorisation
  4. Existing firms
  5. Apply for approval of employment

Apply for approval of employment

6 July 2026

  • All SRA-regulated firms (including recognised bodies, licensed bodies, and sole practitioners)
  • Any solicitor or registered European lawyer (REL) whose practice consists entirely of non-reserved legal activities (as permitted by regulation 10.2 (a) of the Authorisation of Individuals Regulations wanting to employ or remunerate someone who is subject to section 41 or section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974)
  • Any non-regulated business or organisation who want to employ a solicitor who’s practising certificate is subject to conditions that require our approval of employment.
  • Firms must make a full application for approval of employment within 28 days from the date of the S43 Order.
  • This should be made via mySRA by the firm (not individual).
  • The individual cannot take up their role until after the decision has been made.

Get ready to apply

You must provide your answers to the following questions as a separate document. This can then be uploaded to your case when submitting your application.

  1. Name of the Firm
  2. SRA ID of the firm
  3. Name of the individual
  4. SRA ID of the individual
  5. Date the order was made
  6. Has the individual named in the order disclosed full details of the conditions and the reasons for them to ? (If not, please explain reasons).
  1. What is the name, qualifications, job title and place of work of the person(s) who will be directly responsible for supervising the individual on a day-to-day basis.
  2. Details of how the supervisor is suitable to undertake this role.
  3. If any person(s) responsible in question 7 is/are not a manager of the firm, who is the manager with overall responsibility for supervision and management of the individual.
  4. If the person(s) responsible in question 7 or the manager in (7) above are absent from the office, please advise who would have responsibility for the supervision of the individual.
  5. Details of the firm’s supervision procedures and how often these will be followed and by whom, to ensure sure that the individual is properly supervised and managed.
  6. Who will complete file reviews and staff appraisals? And how often will these be undertaken?
  7. What proposed activities would the individual carry out if employed at your firm? In addition to answering this question you must also attach a full job description which includes duties and responsibilities.
  1. What are the individual’s proposed hours and place of work?
  2. Is there any home working? If so, you must explain how this will be supervised.
  3. Will the individual have responsibility for receiving or holding client money? If yes, how will you provide oversight?
  4. Will the individual be a signatory to the client and/or office account? If yes, how will you provide oversight?
  5. Will the individual be responsible for supervising any other members of staff? If so, please provide details of number of staff, job titles.

The person you want to employ will need to provide you with the following information for you to submit with the application:

  • Qualifications they hold.
  • Full detail of their employment history.
  • References from previous employers, detailing the work they have undertaken since the order was made against them.
  • They should also provide email confirmation that they give consent for the SRA to engage with the firm on their behalf in relation to this application.

We recommend you read the full guidance before you make your application.

Making your application

We aim to decide within 120 days.

If you do not respond to our requests or fail to answer our questions in a timely manner this could result in a recommendation to refuse your employment request.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Apply for approval of employment

Log in to mySRA to apply, go to start a new application

The applicant will need to tell us:

  • about the role of the person you want to employ, including their day to day duties and work details
  • the SRA number of the person you wish to employ
  • supervise other staff
  • be responsible for handling client money
  • be a signatory to the firm's client accounts
  • have direct contact with clients
  • how the person you want to employ will be supervised.

The person you want to employ will need to provide us with:

  • References from previous employers, detailing the work they have undertaken since the order was made against them.

We recommend you read the full guidance before you make your application.

Making your application

We aim to decide within 120 days.

If you do not respond to our requests or fail to answer our questions in a timely manner this could result in a recommendation to refuse your employment request.

Apply for approval of employment

Log in to mySRA to apply, go to start a new application
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