Issue 35 – September 2013 Welcome to Edition 35 of SRA Update. This newsletter brings you the latest information about the work of the Solicitors Regulation Authority. It includes important news for solicitors and others providing legal services. Licences needed for consumer credit work On 1, April 2014, The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will take…

Issue Date: 21/08/2013 New QASA Handbook published The Joint Advocacy Group (JAG), comprising the Bar Standards Board (BSB), Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and ILEX Professional Standards (IPS) has published the official Handbook for the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) today. The Handbook, which has been jointly developed by the three regulators, provides an overview…

25 July 2013 Criminal legal aid: join our live Q&A We’re holding a free live webinar next week to answer your questions about our efforts to secure a sustainable future for criminal legal aid. We’ll explain our proposed alternative to price-competitive tendering, summarise the purpose and progress of our discussions with the Ministry of Justice…

Law Society Council meeting summary: 11 July 2013 At recent meetings, the Council has discussed major strategic issues facing the profession, including supporting the profession after April 2013 reforms, and responding to the Government’s proposals for competitive tendering for criminal legal aid. At the July Council meeting, followed by the Law Society’s AGM, several boards…

Fellow solicitors and friends, Yesterday, I became president of the Law Society. It is both an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity to represent our profession for the next twelve months. It will, of course, be more than a little daunting too. Lucy Scott-Moncrieff has been an outstanding representative for solicitors during the…

The video relates to the launch of the 2012 Diversity League Table and the 2012 Diversity Legal Awards, which took place in November 2012. Containing interviews, sound bites and comments; including the presentation of the 2012 Diversity Legal Awards. With clips from, an exclusive interview with Chris Kenny, Chief Executive of the Legal Services Board,…

The changing legal marketplace Working in the law remains a wonderful career – but it is not the same profession that many of us joined when we first qualified. It has had to change to meet the challenges and realities of the world around it. It might not be a popular view, but I find…

Constituencies Last updated: 25 June 2013 The Law Society council seats cover geographical and non-geographical constituencies. Following the 2013 Council election, the council is now as follows (terms of office are four years except where indicated otherwise): Geographical constituencies 2 – The City of London: Paul Barnes 3 – Holborn: Fraser Whitehead 8 – The…

BME Regulatory Event Venue: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL Cost: 25.00 GBP (ex. VAT)   Overview CPD hours 2.5 The Law Society  Ethnic Minority Lawyers Division is a  new network providing  BAME  members with, direct access to tailored information, advice, and training. The division has been set up to enable direct contact…

Law Society responds to legal aid consultation PCT proposals are unworkable This week the Law Society has outlined why the government’s plans to introduce price-competitive tendering (PCT) for criminal legal aid are unworkable. Drawing on independent economic analysis we demonstrate that is not possible to deliver what the Ministry of Justice is demanding for the…