The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published its response to the consultation on changes to the education and training regulations.
The 12-week consultation closed at the end of February and is the first stage of the SRA’s Training for Tomorrow programme.
It contains proposals that focus on the essentials of the Authority’s education and training framework and remove unnecessary requirements and processes, in line with the association’s Red Tape Initiative.
To create a more efficient system, proposals include the removal of complex exemption arrangements, the replacement of student enrolment with a targeted approach to dealing with character and suitability issues, and the removal of the need to complete training under the terms of a training contract specified by the SRA.
Julie Brannan, SRA Director of Education and Training, said: “Overall, the proposed changes to the regulations were welcomed by most of those who responded, although in some cases support was on the basis that the SRA would provide clear and accessible guidance.We will be publishing guidance at the same time as we implement the new rules on 1 July.
“Two broad themes have emerged in the responses to this consultation — assuring the standards of those entering the profession and the requirement for a breadth of training which includes both contentious and non-contentious work, as required by the Practice Skills Standards.”
The changes are subject to LSB approval and will be included in a new version of the Handbook on 1 July.
The changes will be implemented in time for the 2014 academic year.
The full response is available here: http://www.sra.org.uk/sra/consultations/education-training-regulations.p
