This practice note is the Law Society’s view of good practice in this area. It is not legal advice.

Practice notes are issued by the Law Society for the use and benefit of its members. They represent the Law Society’s view of good practice in a particular area. They are not intended to be the only standard of good practice that solicitors can follow. You are not required to follow them but doing so will make it easier to account to oversight bodies for your actions.

Practice notes are not legal advice, nor do they necessarily provide a defence to complaints of misconduct or of inadequate professional service. While care has been taken to ensure that they are accurate, up to date and useful, the Law Society will not accept any legal liability in relation to them.

For queries or comments on this practice note contact the Law Society’s Practice Advice Service.

Must - A specific requirement in legislation or of a principle, rule, regulation or other mandatory provision in the SRA Standards and Regulations. You must comply, unless there are specific exemptions or defences provided for in relevant legislation or the SRA’s Regulatory Arrangements.

Should - Outside of a regulatory context, good practice for most situations in the Law Society’s view. In the case of the SRA Standards and Regulations, a non-mandatory provision (such as may be set out in notes or guidance).

These may not be the only means of complying with legislative or regulatory requirements and there may be situations where the suggested route is not the best possible route to meet the needs of your client. However, if you do not follow the suggested route, you should be able to justify to oversight bodies why the alternative approach you have taken is appropriate, either for your practice, or in the particular retainer.

May - A non-exhaustive list of options for meeting your obligations or running your practice. Which option you choose is determined by the profile of the individual practice, client or retainer. You may be required to justify why this was an appropriate option to oversight bodies.

There are more terms in the SRA Glossary.

1. Introduction
   1. What's the issue?
    
2. SRA standards and regulations
   1. SRA principles
   2. SRA code of conduct for firms
   3. SRA code of conduct for solicitors, RELs and RFLs
   4. SRA account rules
   5. SRA authorisation of firms rules
   6. Financial services rules
   7. Regulatory and disciplinary procedures rules
   8. SRA transparency rules
   9. SRA indemnity insurance rules
    
3. Entity-based regulation
   1. Building an ethical culture
   2. Role of the SRA
   3. Impact on individual sectors
   4. Freelance solicitors
   5. Impact on non-solicitor managers and employees
   6. Impact on in-house lawyers
   1. Practising through an unregulated entity
   2. Professional liability
   7. Ownership and management
   8. Switching from one business model to another
   9. Key compliance areas
    
4. Anti-money laundering compliance and general risk management
   1. Referral fees
   2. Transparency
   3. Publicity
   4. Selling practice and cross-selling
    
5. Business management considerations
   1. Supervision
   2. Providing information to the SRA
   3. Financial stability and other risks
   4. Changes to the management structure of a practice
    
6. Equality and diversity
7. More information