The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has developed new resources to support the over 34,500 solicitors working in-house in England and Wales. These materials, created in collaboration with the regulator’s virtual in-house solicitor reference group, address issues identified in the SRA’s 2023 thematic review and feedback from in-house solicitors.
When asked for comment, Juliet Oliver, General Counsel at the SRA, highlights the unique challenges faced by in-house solicitors, emphasising the importance of these resources in providing support and guidance, saying “We have been working closely with the in-house community over the past year to consider what support we can offer to address some of these challenges. We believe these resources will provide valuable support and guidance to in-house solicitors across a range of important issues. But to make sure this is the case, we want to take this opportunity to invite those working in the sector to input”.
The resources include guidance on professional obligations for employers and solicitors, client identification, internal investigations, and reporting wrong-doing. Case studies demonstrate the application of this guidance. The SRA is inviting feedback on these resources by April 19.
These new resources were released ahead of the SRA’s second annual in-house solicitors conference, held on March 14 in London. This discussed topics such as leadership, professional competence, and environmental, social, and governance responsibilities. In-house solicitors constitute over one-fifth of all practising solicitors in England and Wales, working across various sectors.