SRA Update

SRA Update Issue 97 October 2021

General updates
Compliance updates

Welcome to the latest issue of SRA Update. We’re pleased to say the practising certificate renewal window is now open, and you have until 13.00 on 11 November to apply. The majority of firms will have already renewed their professional indemnity insurance, but a reminder that you need to let us know if you have not secured a new policy in time, and are using the extended policy period in which to get cover. Finally, we have a number of events coming up this month for you to sign up for, while following the success of our customer review pilot, we are now also piloting unbundling. If you are interested in taking part in the pilot, please let us know.

Paul Philip

Chief Executive

Renew your practising certificates now

Practising certificates renewals are now open and you have until Thursday 11 November at 13.00 to renew. Whether you are renewing your own certificate or completing a bulk renewal for your organisation, you’ll find the form you need at the top of the applications list in mySRA.

New guidance for those working in coroners’ courts

Working in partnership with the Bar Standards Board and CILEx Regulation, we have published guidance to make sure those working in coroners’ courts uphold the high professional standards expected of them. The guidance has in part been driven by concerns about adversarial approaches being taken in some cases.

Regulators Pioneer Fund grant will improve access to justice

We have won a further grant from the latest round of the Regulators Pioneer Fund (RPF) to help connect those using new legal technologies with those who need their services. The award of £167,856 will be used to create a new network where regulators, expert research institutions and local government can work together to improve legal access within local communities.

Interested in unbundled services? Get involved in our pilot

We will soon be launching a pilot to study the potential benefits to you and your clients of unbundled services. The pilot will be run with the Law Society and the Legal Services Consumer Panel, and supported by the Bar Standards Board. We want you to get in touch if you want to take part.

Get the lowdown at our Compliance Conference

Whatever your role at your firm, you are invited to join our free annual Compliance Conference this November. There are two ways you can get involved – either face-to-face in Birmingham on 23 November, or by joining our virtual event running throughout the following week. These free events will cover topics relevant for everyone, and you will also have the chance to get involved and ask questions to an array of SRA and external speakers.

Sign up to our innovation events

To be staged in Liverpool and Cardiff, our popular free innovation conferences are back! These events offer firms an opportunity to look at issues such as the latest innovations in the legal sector, how consumers’ expectations are changing and how firms are adapting to technology. Find out more and secure your place.

Join us at LegalEx 2021

LegalEx is back as a face-to-face event from 10 to 11 November at ExCeL London. Join us in our dedicated SRA keynote theatre for the latest on topics such as AML, SQE and innovation in legal services. Register for free today.

Social mobility – using data to improve

We are holding a joint event with the Law Society today (12 October) to give an overview of the challenges firms face to give everyone a fair chance, regardless of their background. We will be joined by the Social Mobility Commission and PRIME, who will discuss how data can be collected and used to shape social mobility strategies.

SQE – networking events for employers and training providers

We’re running face-to-face SQE networking events in Cardiff, Leeds and London this autumn. Free to attend, they are open to anyone involved in training future solicitors, whether an employer, training provider or law clinic.

Trans and non-binary inclusion in the workplace

We have updated our guide for law firms in promoting a trans and non-binary inclusive workplace. According to research, 65 percent of trans people hide their gender status at work. It is beneficial to think ahead and take some practical steps to make sure you have an inclusive approach which allows your staff to be themselves at work.

Your health, your career

Are you worried about your health affecting your work? Life as a solicitor can be challenging and the demands and pressures can easily build up. We can signpost you to sources of help and make adjustments for you if you are in difficulty.

Welcome to the latest edition of the compliance version of SRA Update. The practising certificate renewal window is now open, and you have until 13.00 on 11 November to apply. The majority of firms will have already renewed their professional indemnity insurance, but a reminder that you need to let us know if you have not secured a new policy in time and are using the extended policy period in which to get cover. Finally, bookings for the Compliance Officers Conference are now open and, for those who cannot join us in Birmingham, there’s a whole week of virtual webinars following it so you can catch up on what we covered.

Paul Philip

Chief Executive

Time for your firm and employees to renew

It is now time for your firm, and those who work for you to renew your practising certificates. Whether you are renewing your own certificate or completing a bulk renewal for your organisation, you have until 11 November to submit your application, You’ll find the form you need at top of the applications list in mySRA.

Compliance Officers Conference – book your place

Our annual Compliance Officers Conference will once again take place in November. This year there are two ways you can get involved – either face-to-face in Birmingham on 23 November, or by joining our virtual event running throughout the following week. These free events will cover topics relevant for compliance officers and throughout both events, you will have the chance to get involved and ask questions.

Have you been unable to renew your professional indemnity insurance?

We know that for some it has been getting harder and harder to obtain professional indemnity insurance and some firms did not secure a renewal on 1 October. You need to tell us if you have not yet secured cover so we can help you protect the interests of your clients. If you have not already notified us and the insurer that last provided you with cover, you should do so immediately.

Frozen assets list

You need to check your clients against the latest Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) list for frozen assets. Anyone with a client that appears on the list has until October 15 to make a report to OFSI. This is a key part of the effort to combat money laundering.

Your questions on anti-money laundering answered

We often hold webinars to explain in more detail your anti-money laundering obligations. Viewers have the chance to ask questions, which we try to answer. We have compiled some of the most common queries, along with our responses, which might help you comply with the regulations.

Whiplash reforms and cyclists

The Civil Liability Act 2018 (CLA) and the Whiplash Injury Regulations - more commonly known as the whiplash reforms – came into effect at the end of spring. They brought a number of changes that will affect how consumers make a PI whiplash claim. We have been asked how this affects accidents involving cyclists.

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