Andrew Pavlovic explores the SRA Guidance on Workplace Environments
On 7 February 2022, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) published its long-awaited Guidance on Workplace Environments, setting out (1) what it considers a good workplace culture looks like; and (2) the circumstances in which it will take action against firms, where the failure to cultivate the right culture plays a role in or contributes to individual misconduct.
Background
For some time, there has been growing disquiet in the legal profession about the SRA’s treatment of junior solicitors who commit acts of dishonesty, usually to conceal or cover up mistakes. Despite complaining of toxic and unsupportive work environments, unreasonable workloads, and inadequate supervision, those solicitors have,...
