SRA Handbook 2016

All solicitors in England and Wales need to keep up to date with the rules governing their conduct and the responsibilities and obligations that the SRA imposes on them.

The SRA Handbook sets out the standards and requirements the SRA expects solicitors to achieve and observe for the benefit of the clients they serve. Understand the latest changes and obligations with this new edition, updated to version 18 (1 November 2016).

Key changes to this edition include:

* authorisation rules simplification - a body's application will no longer need to include a statement of the reserved legal
activities that the body intends to carry on, and the SRA may grant an application for authorisation in relation to one or
more reserved activity
* removal of SRA's power to revoke or suspend authorisation of a body which has ceased to carry on the reserved legal
activities for which it was authorised
* end of transitional arrangements for the purposes of regulating consumer credit activities- the Handbook now provides for
firms authorised by the SRA to carry out some consumer credit activities under SRA regulation, where the activities are
central to the delivery of legal services
* the Insurance Act 2015, which came into force in August 2016 and makes changes to the law on non-disclosure and
misrepresentation in relation to non-consumer contracts, including solicitors' professional indemnity insurance
* repeal of the SRA Training Regulations 2011 Part 3 (CPD Regulations), requiring a new approach to continuing
competence that is mandatory for all solicitors from 1 November 2016.

Conveniently containing the updated Code and the Accounts Rules in one place, this handbook is essential to the work of all solicitors in England and Wales. The Handbook is regularly updated online at www.sra.org.uk