SRA Handbook

Introduction to the Admission Regulations

Version 21 of the Handbook was published on 06/12/2018. For more information, please click 'History' Above

Introduction to the Admission Regulations

Preamble

Authority: Made on 17 June 2011 by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Board under sections 28, 79 and 80 of the Solicitors Act 1974 with the approval of the Legal Services Board under paragraph 19 of Schedule 4 to the Legal Services Act 2007

Date: These regulations came into force on 6 October 2011

Replacing: The Solicitors' Admission Regulations 2009

Regulating: Those individuals seeking admission to the roll of solicitors in England and Wales

Regulating: appeals from SRA decisions relating to admission as a solicitor.

Overview

Outcomes-focused regulation concentrates on providing positive outcomes which when achieved will benefit and protect clients and the public. These regulations set out the outcomes-focused requirements governing the process for admitting people to the roll of solicitors. They also cover appeals against SRA decisions taken under the SRA Training Regulations and the SRA Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme Regulations.

Education and training underpins the regulation of solicitors - it ensures the creation of competent and ethical practitioners. We regulate and set requirements for all stages of pre-qualification training in order to give solicitors the tools they need to adhere to the Principles.

The Principles

These regulations form part of the Handbook, in which the 10 mandatory Principles are all-pervasive. They apply to all those we regulate and underpin all aspects of practice. Outcomes relevant to education and training are listed beneath the Principles.

You must:

1. uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice;
2. act with integrity;
3. not allow your independence to be compromised;
4. act in the best interests of each client;
5. provide a proper standard of service to your clients;
6. behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in you and in the provision of legal services;
7. comply with your legal and regulatory obligations and deal with your regulators and ombudsmen in an open, timely and co-operative manner;
8. run your business or carry out your role in the business effectively and in accordance with proper governance and sound financial and risk management principles;
9. run your business or carry out your role in the business in a way that encourages equality of opportunity and respect for diversity; and
10. protect client money and assets.

Outcomes

The outcomes which apply to these regulations are that if you are an individual seeking admission to the roll of solicitors:

O(AR1)

you have complied with all relevant training and/or assessment requirements; and

O(AR2)

you have recourse to appeal decisions taken by us in relation to qualification as a solicitor.

These outcomes, and the regulations that flow from them, apply to all individuals seeking admission to the roll of solicitors in England and Wales - i.e. unadmitted persons, trainee solicitors, and qualified lawyers from another jurisdiction seeking qualification via transfer.