SRA - archived rules

Warning

This page applies to conduct issues occurring before 1 July 2007. For rules governing conduct after 1 July 2007, see rules.sra.org.uk.

Law Society's Code of Conduct [2004]

Friday 01 September 2006

The Law Society is in the course of bringing in a new Code of Conduct which will replace The Guide to the Professional Conduct of Solicitors. Please note that this new Code of Conduct is not yet in force.

The new Law Society's Code of Conduct, and the related Recognised Bodies Regulations, were made by the Council in September 2004. They are currently undergoing the process of review by government and the judiciary under Schedule 4 to the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. They are expected to come into force during the first half of 2007. Please check the website for updates on this position.

The Code will replace almost all of the provisions currently found in The Guide to the Professional Conduct of Solicitors / Guide Online, except for the Solicitors' Accounts Rules and rules relating to professional indemnity, financial services and the Compensation Fund.

The text of the Law Society's Code of Conduct and Recognised Bodies Regulations is contained in the pdf files below. Please note that this is an updated version of the code, last amended on 1 August 2005. It should not be assumed, however, that this represents the final wording and further changes may yet be made. Future changes will be posted to this web site.

Author(s):		Professional Ethics

Downloadable document(s):		Front page & contents 263K Preamble and Rule 1 (Core Duties) 40K Rule 2 (Client Relations) 121K Rule 3 (Conflict of interests) 271K Rule 4 (Confidentiality and disclosure) 103K Rule 5 (Business management in England & Wales) 107K Rule 6 (Avoiding discrimination) 143K Rule 7 (Publicity) 103K Rule 8 (Fee sharing) 44K Rule 9 (Referrals of business) 65K Rule 10 (Relations with third parties) 82K Rule 11 (Litigation and advocacy) 80K Rule 12 (Framework of practice) 133K Rule 13 (In-house practice) 117K Rule 14 (Incorporated practice) 118K Rule 15 (Overseas Practice) 173K Rule 16 (Cross-border practice in the European Union) 60K Rule 17 (Insolvency Practice) 18K Rule 18 (Property selling) 77K Rule 19 (Financial services) 35K Rule 20 (Requirements of practice) 137K Rule 21 (Separate businesses) 42K Rule 22 (Waivers) 13K Rule 23 (Applications) 17K Rule 24 (Interpretation) 31K Rule 25 (Commencement and appeals) 14K Recognised Bodies Regulations [2004] 20K Code of Conduct - Complete (Warning - 1.4Mb document) 1492K Adobe Acrobat accessibility