This eLearning course provides comprehensive training on the SRA Code of Conduct, which sets out the standards of professional behaviour expected of solicitors and law firms regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Understanding and complying with the Code is fundamental to the practice of law, as it defines the professional obligations that underpin the solicitor-client relationship and the public's trust in the legal profession.
The course begins by explaining the structure of the SRA's regulatory framework, including the SRA Principles and the SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors and the Code for Firms. It covers the seven SRA Principles: upholding the constitutional principle of the rule of law and the proper administration of justice, acting in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors' profession and in legal services, acting with independence, acting with integrity, acting in the best interests of each client, acting in a way that encourages equality, diversity, and inclusion, and maintaining the level of competence and legal knowledge needed to practise effectively.
The training addresses each of these principles in detail, providing practical examples of how they apply in day-to-day practice and the common situations where breaches can occur. It covers the specific requirements around client care, including the duty to provide clear information about costs and the scope of work, the duty of confidentiality, and the obligations around conflicts of interest. The course also covers the requirements around financial management, including the proper handling of client money and the accounting rules.
The course explains the SRA's approach to enforcement and the consequences of breaching the Code, including regulatory sanctions such as fines, conditions on practice, suspension, and in the most serious cases, striking off. Upon completion, legal professionals will have a thorough understanding of their obligations under the SRA Code of Conduct and be equipped to maintain the high standards of professional conduct expected by the regulator and the public.
