The Solicitor's Regulation Authority's (SRA) Handbook contains the authorisation requirements for those wishing to enter the profession, firms who wish to be regulated by the SRA and those wishing to hold a regulated role eg as a manager of a firm, owner or compliance officer. The Handbook also sets out when a solicitor may practice.
Authorisation rules
These new rules set out the process by which firms will become authorised to practice. They also contain many of the new reporting requirements. All alternative business structures (ABSs) will be regulated under these rules. They will apply to those firms that are currently recognised bodies from March 2012.
Practising regulations and practice framework rules
These regulations describe the process for applying for a practising certificate and for authorisation to practise as a sole practitioner. They also set out the types of business solicitors may practice in and the work they can carry out.
Training regulations
The training regulations have now been divided into three parts:
- qualification regulations dealing with the legal education and training requirements for individuals seeking to qualify using the domestic route, as well as student enrolment
- training provider regulations dealing with the provision of training contracts and the Professional Skills Course by organisations
- CPD regulations dealing with the post-qualification training requirements for solicitors and registered European lawyers.
Suitability test
You must satisfy the suitability test if you are applying for:
- admission under the Qualified Lawyer Transfer Scheme, training and admission regulations and
- those applying to be approved as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP), compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA), managers or non-lawyer owners
The purpose of the test is to satisfy the SRA as to the applicant's character and suitability to be a solicitor.
The test has two parts. The first part applies to all applicants and the second to those applying to be approved as a COLP and a COFA, managers or non-lawyer owners.
The new test is intended to be more robust and transparent than the previous character and suitability guidelines.