Update to SRA Handbook effective 30th April 2015
There are three groups of changes in Version 14 (with no changes to the SRA’s Accounts Rules):
- Changes have been made to the SRA Higher Rights of Audience Regulations 2011 to remove the transitional arrangements which have expired. The SRA have retained the power to waive any of the provisions contained within them, but this has been extended to the regulations in general.
- The SRA Authorisation Rules for Legal Services Bodies and Licensable Bodies 2011 and SRA Handbook Glossary 2012 have been amended to remove all remaining transitional arrangements for the authorisation of sole practitioners. This is pending the implementation of a S69 Order, which came into force on 6 April 2015. Following implementation, sole practitioners will not require an annual endorsement on their PC. This will be replaced with an authorisation that does not need to be renewed annually.
- Changes have been made to the SRA Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (Crime) Regulations 2013 to allow the SRA to retain greater flexibility and control as to when to implement revised registration timetables for QASA and to remove the requirement for any solicitor to submit evidence that they have been assessed by an approved assessment organisation.
