SRA launches support for small firms

SRA launches support for small firms

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has set out plans to support small firms in a paper released at today’s SRA national conference for compliance officers in Birmingham.

Chief Executive Paul Philip used his opening address to the 400 delegates at the conference to launch the discussion about the issues facing small law firms and what the SRA can do to help.

They promised to improve further the support offered to smaller firms when they set out their regulatory reform programme in May this year. The discussion paper marks the first phase of this work.

Mr Philip said: "Small firms play a really important part in the provision of good legal services and we want to do everything we can to provide support. We are committed to making sure that our regulation works for all types of firm and to do that we need to be much more approachable and accessible.

"I am asking small firms to tell us what would work for you, to join our virtual reference group and to use the additional services we are offering."

In the discussion paper, the SRA have suggested a range of support mechanisms, including small firm pages on their website; a dedicated helpline and resources dealing with specific issues, such as opening a small practice.

The SRA also look at how to make authorisation changes and compliance officer approval easier for small firms and consider additional support from their Supervision team. The small firms section, including the discussion paper can be accessed here: www.sra.org.uk/smallfirms.

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