EditorSolicitors Journal

SRA: continuing competency regime well received by solicitors

SRA: continuing competency regime well received by solicitors

The removal of the requirement for solicitors to undertake 16 hours a year of continuing professional development has not resulted in a decline in the quality of solicitors’ work, according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) - but not all solicitors are compliant with the new regime.
 
Since the new continuing competence system was introduced in 2016, solicitors must now declare the training and development they have undergone during the last year in their annual renewal application. 
 
The SRA recently surveyed 500 law firms and undertook a thematic review of 20 firms to look at how the new approach has been received by firms and solicitors.
 
It said the new regime has been “well received” by law firms, with 39% of respondents saying the changes had improved the competence of solicitors.
 
More than half of firms reported no change to their levels of learning and development and had not experienced any significant problems with implementing the new system.
 
Most firms also said the associated costs had gone down because of a better focus of activity on specific roles and teams.
 
Individual solicitors said the new approach enabled them to better identify their needs. However, the SRA said a small number of solicitors “are consistently failing to return their continuing competence declaration, or in some cases are making a nil return”.
 
The SRA said it will be writing to them and will consider disciplinary action if there is a failure to comply with the regulatory requirements.
 
The SRA’s report can be found here. 
 
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement
Latest News

Browne Jacobson collaborates with LGiU on report highlighting “critical” role of local government to hit net zero

Fri Sep 22 2023

BSB publishes new guidance on barristers’ conduct in non-professional life and on social media

Fri Sep 22 2023

The Chancery Lane Project expands to the USA

Thu Sep 21 2023

Delay in Final Report of the Infected Blood Inquiry

Thu Sep 21 2023

Attorney General presents UK intervention in Ukraine case against Russia at International Court of Justice

Thu Sep 21 2023

Firms losing potential clients by failing to return their calls, research shows

Thu Sep 21 2023

Powers of attorney modernised as legislation allows CILEX Lawyers to certify LPA copies for the first time

Thu Sep 21 2023

Stark contrast between Government response to Post Office Horizon victims and Infected Blood

Wed Sep 20 2023

ACSO comments on the Justice select Committee report:

Wed Sep 20 2023
FeaturedThe dangers of funding assumptions
The dangers of funding assumptions
Ethics Institute launches taskforce to examine legal services to oligarchs and kleptocrats
Ethics Institute launches taskforce to examine legal services to oligarchs and kleptocrats
Legal Departments See Higher Matter Volumes but Flat or Declining Budgets: Thomson Reuters 2023 Legal Department Operations Index
Legal Departments See Higher Matter Volumes but Flat or Declining Budgets: Thomson Reuters 2023 Legal Department Operations Index
More Than 200 Employers Named And Shamed For Failing To Pay National Minimum Wage
More Than 200 Employers Named And Shamed For Failing To Pay National Minimum Wage
SJ Interview: Hannah Ambrose
SJ Interview: Hannah Ambrose
Whose human rights are more important, yours or mine?
Whose human rights are more important, yours or mine?