On 25 November 2019 the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) brought out new Standards and Regulations (referred to as “STaRs” [link: https://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/standards-regulations]).
SRA regulated firms and individual SRA regulated solicitors must comply with the STaRs and the SRA will act if they are not followed.
On our website we display the SRA’s Digital Badge, which is only available to SRA regulated firms, and this Badge shows our online visitors that we are regulated and provides them with a link to the SRA’s website to confirm this (you will find this Badge on our Home page).
Being regulated by the SRA means that:
- We must meet the high standards that the SRA set under their STaRs, and this applies to everyone who works for us, not just any individual SRA regulated solicitors,
- We must have the right level of insurance in place in case something goes wrong,
- You may be able to claim through the SRA’s “Compensation Fund” [link: https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/problems/solicitor-owes-money] to have your money reimbursed if we lose your money,
- We are entitled to use the word “Solicitors” in our firm name,
- A complaint can be made to the SRA if you have any concerns about our behaviour (complaints about “service” will continue to be dealt with by the Legal Ombudsman [link: https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/],
- We can give “privileged” legal advice known as “legal professional privilege”. This protects from disclosure confidential communications, and material evidencing such communications, that take place between clients and/or their lawyers and in some circumstances also between clients/lawyers and third parties. It is one of the highest rights recognised in English law and as such is a precious right. It is the right of the client. Only legal advice provided by members of the legal profession i.e. Solicitors, Legal Executives, Barristers, etc, or their employees who are properly supervised by a member of the legal profession, can attract “legal professional privilege”.
- We can offer “reserved legal activities” as well as non-reserved legal activities. Not all firms that offer legal services offer both “reserved legal activities” and non-reserved legal activities. “Reserved legal activities” are:
- The exercise of a right of audience
- The conduct of litigation
- Reserved instrument activities
- Probate activities
- Notarial activities
- The administration of oaths
For further information on “reserved legal activities” follow this link: https://www.legalservicesboard.org.uk/enquiries/frequently-asked-questions/reserved-legal-activities
The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.