The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) says the consultation is intended to provide greater assurance that solicitors are maintaining the knowledge, skills and ethical understanding required throughout their careers. The SRA points to evidence from its monitoring work that some solicitors cannot demonstrate that learning and development has followed regular and meaningful reflection, and that some training records focus narrowly on technical legal knowledge rather than wider competence and ethics.
The proposals would require solicitors to keep records explaining how learning and development needs were identified and addressed, and to retain evidence of learning and development for at least three years. The SRA also proposes strengthening the practising certificate renewal declaration. A second proposal would require solicitors to participate each year in at least three hours of facilitated professional ethics discussions, with sessions focused on ethical duties, dilemmas and practice-based scenarios rather than lectures alone.