London, United Kingdom | 15 July 2016 In a fast-changing marketplace, how do regulators build public confidence and balance public protection with the need to support an open competitive market that provides high-quality, affordable services? Trust and the market: Rethinking regulation addresses this question. Chaired by broadcast journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, experts from several sectors share…
Legal services market study
In January 2016 the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) began a market study on the supply of Legal Services in England and Wales, to see whether the market is working sufficiently well in the interests of consumers. The CMA is the UK’s primary competition and consumer authority. In its statement of scope, the CMA observed:…
SRA Innovate
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in England and Wales has a policy of encouraging providers to communicate their service innovations so the regulator and providers can make sure regulation is not a barrier to innovation. The programme is called ‘SRA Innovate’. The SRA website says, ‘If you have been thinking of a new way to…
SRA approach to regulatory objectives
The approach of the Solicitors Regulation Authority to its regulatory objectives is explained on the corporate strategy page of the SRA website.
SRA initiatives overview
The SRA publishes its initiatives on the SRA website.
Setting Standards: The future of legal services education and training regulation in England and Wales
Legal Education and Training Review The review was jointly undertaken by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and the Institute of Legal Executives Professional Standards (IPS). It was intended to be the most substantial review of legal education and training since the publication of the ‘Ormrod Report’ (Report of the Committee on Legal…
The legal needs of small businesses 2015 survey
Large scale quantitative survey of the experiences of 10,528 small businesses, showing the origin of legal problems that they face and their strategies for dealing with these problems, including where they seek advice and their experiences of doing so. Read the report on the LSB website
Solicitors Regulation Authority
Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Country: United Kingdom Regulatory function: The SRA is the regulator of admission, practice and discipline for solicitors. It also authorises and monitors law firms. Further information: SRA website ICLR members:
Costs of regulation in England and Wales
The Legal Services Board found little evidence on the costs of legal sector regulation, so in late 2014 it surveyed the regulated community and in 2015 it commissioned a study of the incremental costs of regulation – those incurred to comply with legal regulation. Categories of regulatory cost in the studies include: Requirements to…
Innovation in legal services
The Solicitors Regulation Authority surveyed 1,500 organisations and concluded: Alternative Business Structures (ABSs) have succeeded in promoting innovation and diversity; ABS Solicitors are 13-15 per cent more likely to introduce new legal services. Solicitors are, on average, more innovative than other regulated legal services organisations in terms of both managerial and organisational changes. 80 per…