- Only an approved education provider may provide and assess:
- a Qualifying Law Degree;
- a CPE;
- an Exempting Law Degree; or
- an Integrated Course.
- Only an authorised education provider may provide and assess the Legal Practice Course or the Professional Skills Course.
- An organisation may apply to the SRA in such manner as may be prescribed to be an approved education provider or an authorised education provider.
- The SRA may, in relation to an application for approval or authorisation:
- grant the application, subject to such conditions and for such period as it considers appropriate; or
- refuse the application.
- If the SRA considers that an approved education provider or an authorised education provider has failed to comply with any obligation placed on it under these regulations, the SRA may:
- revoke the organisation's approval or authorisation, as appropriate; or
- make the approval or authorisation subject to such conditions as it considers appropriate.
SRA Education, Training and Assessment Provider Regulations
Introduction
These regulations set out the requirements governing organisations which are providing or intending to provide education and training, and the delivery of assessments to those seeking to be admitted as solicitors.
This introduction does not form part of the SRA Education, Training and Assessment Provider Regulations.
Part 1: Requirements for education providers
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Part 2: Requirements for authorised training providers
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- Only an authorised training provider may provide a period of recognised training to trainees.
- An organisation may apply for authorisation as an authorised training provider and its application must demonstrate that it will meet the requirements of regulations 3 to 5 below.
- The SRA may, in relation to an application for approval or authorisation:
- grant the application, subject to such conditions and for such period as it considers appropriate; or
- refuse the application.
- If the SRA considers that an authorised training provider or a training principal has failed to comply with any obligation placed on it under these regulations, the SRA may:
- revoke the organisation's authorisation;
- make the authorisation subject to such conditions as it considers appropriate; or
- require the authorised training provider to appoint a new training principal.
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- An authorised training provider must:
- have in place a training principal for the whole duration of any period of recognised training, who meets the requirements of regulation 5 and whose identity has been notified to the SRA in the prescribed form; and
- pay the fees and expenses for each trainee's first attempt at the Professional Skills Course.
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- A period of recognised training must:
- unless regulation 4.2 applies, be of a duration of a total of at least two years full time, or equivalent;
- ensure that the trainee has applied and developed the skills as set out in the Practice Skills Standards;
- be appropriately supervised by solicitors and other individuals who have adequate legal knowledge and experience in the practice area they are supervising and the necessary skills to provide effective supervision; and
- include regular appraisal of the trainee's performance and development, and review of the trainee's record of training.
- An authorised training provider may recognise previous work-based experience the trainee has undertaken as satisfying up to six months of the required period of recognised training, provided:
- the experience was gained in the three years preceding the commencement of the period of recognised training;
- the experience enabled the trainee to apply and develop one or more of the skills as set out in the Practice Skills Standards; and
- the trainee was supervised, and was subject to an appraisal of their performance and development, during the period of work-based experience.
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- The training principal for an authorised training provider must:
- be a solicitor holding a current practising certificate or be a practising barrister;
- notify the SRA in the prescribed form before any individual commences a period of recognised training or if this is not possible then as soon as practicable thereafter;
- ensure that the training provided meets the requirements of regulation 4;
- ensure that the trainee maintains a record of training which will meet the requirements set out at regulation 3E.1 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations; and
- certify to the authorised training provider in the prescribed form at the end of any period of recognised training whether, in their opinion, the trainee:
- is of the proper character and suitability to be admitted as a solicitor; and
- has completed training which complies with regulation 4 of these regulations,
Part 3: Requirements for higher rights of audience assessment providers
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- Only an organisation approved by the SRA may provide assessments in higher courts civil advocacy and higher courts criminal advocacy conferring a higher courts advocacy qualification.
- An organisation may apply to the SRA in such manner as may be prescribed to be approved to provide such assessments.
- The SRA may, in relation to an application for approval:
- grant the application, subject to such conditions as it considers appropriate; or
- refuse the application.
- The SRA shall issue guidelines and standards for the provision of competence assessments against which the competence of those applying for a higher court advocacy qualification must be assessed.
- If the SRA considers that an assessment provider has failed to comply with any obligation placed on it under these regulations, the SRA may:
- revoke the provider's approval; or
- make the approval subject to such conditions and for such period as it considers appropriate.
Part 4: Monitoring and inspection
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- In order to protect and promote the standards of legal education and training, the SRA may:
- monitor the relevant programmes of study provided by an approved education provider and an authorised education provider, the training provided by an authorised training provider or the assessments provided by an assessment provider approved under regulation 6;
- visit the provider's premises, at such intervals and on such grounds as it may consider appropriate;
- require the provider to respond promptly, fully and accurately to any request by the SRA for explanations, information or documents;
- require the provider to ensure that relevant information or documents it holds, or that a third party holds on its behalf are available for inspection.
Part 5: Transitional provisions
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- Any approval, authorisation or recognition granted under the Monitoring of Courses Regulations 1991, the SRA Training Regulations 2011, the SRA Higher Rights of Audience Regulations 2011 or the SRA Training Regulations 2014 - Qualification and Provider Regulations, will continue as if granted under these regulations.
- A period of recognised training entered into before these regulations come into force will continue to be governed by the SRA Training Regulations 2014 - Qualification and Provider Regulations.
Supplemental notes
Made by the SRA Board on 30 May 2018.
Made under section 2 of the Solicitors Act 1974.