SRA Handbook

Authorisation of training establishments

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Version 2 of the Handbook was published on 23/12/2011. For more information, please click 'History' Above

Regulation 2: Authorisation of training establishments

2.1

Regulation 2 applies to:

(a)

training establishments;

(b)

applicants for authorisation to take trainees; and

(c)

applicants for a review of our decisions relating to authorisation to take trainees;

and you and yourself should be construed accordingly.

2.2

If you wish to take a trainee, you may only do so if authorised to do so by us.

2.3

In order for you to be authorised, you must provide us with:

(a)

information about your organisation, body, firm, company, in-house practice or yourself as an individual;

(b)

the name and contact details of your nomination for training principal;

(c)

if applicable, the name and contact details of any other person with overall responsibility for training within your organisation, body, firm or company;

(d)

a declaration regarding your training principal relating to:

(i)

his or her practising certificate history and current status;

(ii)

any referral or referrals to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal; and

(iii)

any regulatory, conduct or disciplinary matters pending; and

(e)

a declaration that you:

(i)

operate in accordance with Chapter 2 of the SRA Code of Conduct;

(ii)

agree to abide by the requirements of the training contracts into which you enter;

(iii)

agree to notify us of any changes in the details submitted to us in respect of your authorisation;

(iv)

are able to provide training and experience in accordance with the Practice Skills Standards;

(v)

confirm that all individuals involved in training issues will have, or have had, appropriate training and experience for the task;

(vi)

confirm that all training contracts will be in the form prescribed by us and will contain such terms and conditions as we may from time to time prescribe, in accordance with these regulations; and

(vii)

confirm whether you will subscribe to our Voluntary Code of Good Practice.

2.4

We may:

(a)

declare any organisation, body, firm, company or individual to be a training establishment, subject to any conditions and for such period as we consider appropriate;

(b)

vary or discharge any condition;

(c)

refuse to declare any organisation, body, firm, company or individual to be a training establishment;

(d)

declare that a training establishment ceases to be such.

2.5

If we:

(a)

refuse to declare an organisation, body, firm, company or individual a training establishment;

(b)

declare an organisation, body, firm, company or individual a training establishment subject to conditions, or vary any condition;

(c)

take any decision under regulation 14.3 which the training establishment is aggrieved by,

the organisation, body, firm, company or individual may apply for review of the decision within one month of receiving notification of it.

2.6

Pending the hearing of an application for review under regulation 2.5, any variation of a condition which is the subject of review stands suspended.

2.7

If we declare that a training establishment ceases to be such, then the organisation, body, firm, company or individual may:

(a)

apply for review of the decision within one month of receiving notification of it; and

(b)

pending the hearing of an application for review may continue to provide training to any trainee who has entered into a training contract at the date of our decision; but

(c)

may not provide training to any other person.

2.8

An application for review made under regulation 2.5 or 2.7 shall be heard by such body or committee as we may determine, not being the body or committee which made the decision that is the subject of review.