The UK Solicitors Regulation Authority, otherwise known as the SRA, is one of the most important regulators in ensuring the integrity of the UK legal system. The regulation authority boasts over 18,000 members and works with solicitors and clients alike from small to multinational legal firms. Anyone that has any involvement with the legal system in the UK, whether it be as a practitioner of law or a client, should be well aware of the influence the SRA has.
One of the critical priorities of the SRA is to maintain the high standard of legal services that are currently available in the UK. Compared to many other countries, the standard and integrity of the legal system in the UK is tremendously high. However, there is no guarantee that it will remain so. Hence, this is why it’s so vital to those that utilise services that a trusted and effective body such as the SRA exists.
The regulatory reforms that the SRA are currently in the process of implementing involve ensuring that frauds and other contraventions of the integrity of the legal system are prevented. The body is made up of a wide range of different legal professionals that have a vast array of different expertise. Because of this, this allows the body to be able to make relevant and useful regulatory reforms for all sectors where legal firms partake in. For example, the regulator incentives for the SRA may be different for international law and commercial law as they are both very distinct and different fields of law.
The SRA provides immensely helpful services to past clients and current clients of law firms throughout the UK. Past clients that feel as though they were defrauded or neglected by a British solicitor may utilise the services of the SRA to report their experience and continue with any sort of necessary legal proceedings. Current clients that are unsure about what avenues to take in the British legal system, or have questions about the legal advice that they are currently receiving, can also use the SRA in order to get a qualified and trustworthy opinion.
For legal professionals, the SRA is a crucial body to join. Legal professionals that wish to ensure that they are respected and trusted within the community should seek to gain accreditation from the body. Furthermore, the SRA is able to provide solicitors in Britain with all of the necessary resources to ensure that they can provide the highest quality service to their clients. There are many guidebooks that are published by the body, as well as reports, that will allow legal professionals to be up to date with the latest developments and ethical standards.
Overall, the UK Solicitors Regulation Authority plays an essential role in the integrity of the British legal system. The authority is able to provide useful services for both clients and currently practicing lawyers that will provide them with peace of mind. Hence, it is highly advisable that anyone who is involved with the legal system in the UK, or has any questions about the British legal system, utilise the SRA for any inquiries.