We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority: What this means for you.
What is the SRA?
The SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) is the statutory regulator of solicitors and most law firms in England and Wales. Its job is to protect the public by setting standards, supervising firms, and taking enforcement action if solicitors breach the rules of professional conduct.
What protection does SRA regulation offer consumers?
When you use an SRA-regulated solicitor like ourselves, you typically get the benefit of a bundle of protections that you would not receive from unregulated providers of legal services. This includes:
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The enforcement of mandatory professional standards and rules. The SRA has wide-ranging powers to impose fines and even strike-off solicitors for serious breaches.
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Financial protections. The SRA oversees compliance with strict rules on handling client money, giving consumers an additional level of financial security.
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Professional indemnity insurance. SRA authorised solicitors must have insurance, and the SRA sets minimum requirements on cover levels.
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Compensation Fund. The SRA operates a compensation fund for consumers who lose money due to a regulated firm’s dishonesty or failure to account, and in certain other limited scenarios.
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“Intervention” powers. If the SRA is unsatisfied with the conduct of a firm of solicitors, it can shut down/intervene in a firm to protect consumers.
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Access to the Legal Ombudsman for service complaints, such as delay, poor advice, and costs issues. The Ombudsman can generally only deal with complaints about regulated legal providers.
The benefit of using an SRA-regulated solicitor, rather than an unregulated provider of legal services
SRA regulation provides a meaningful safety net for consumers and a level of protection that is not available from non-SRA regulated legal services providers such as Claims Management Companies (CMCs) and will writers.
While CMCs are now regulated by the FCA, this is not the same as the SRA’s legal-services consumer protections set out above.
In England and Wales, will writing is not subject to sector-specific statutory regulation, meaning anyone can offer will-writing services. Some will writers join voluntary or self-regulatory bodies like the Society of Will Writers, but that’s not equivalent to statutory regulation under an organisation like the SRA.
SRA regulated inheritance dispute solicitors
It is particularly important to use SRA regulated solicitors in inheritance dispute claims. This is because:
- Inheritance dispute claims are often complex and involve vulnerable parties, overseas assets, business assets, and complicated trusts law.
- Inheritance cases regularly give rise to conflicts of interests or involve issues of mental capacity. SRA regulation offers enforceable standards of professional ethics, client care and independence, with an emphasis on honesty and integrity.
- Significant sums of money can be involved, with client money being held by the solicitor. SRA regulation offers enhanced protection.
- Cases are frequently high risk, making it particularly important that you have the benefit of an effective external complaints route, professional indemnity insurance, and access to the Compensation Fund.
- Solicitors are authorised to deal with ‘reserved legal activities’. This includes not only litigation but certain aspects of probate and estate administration.
Contact our SRA regulated inheritance dispute solicitors for a chat about how we can help you.