SRA Proposes Changes to Continuing Competence Regime: Ten-Minute Talk

The SRA has launched a consultation on changes to its continuing competence regime, driven by the Legal Services Board’s push for a stronger culture of professional ethics across the profession. In this recording, Partners Nick and Andrew discuss what the proposals could mean in practice. In particular, they discuss: • A proposed requirement for solicitors to record and retain evidence of their learning and development for at least three years, moving away from self-certification • The proposed introduction of a minimum of three hours of professional ethics training, focused on interactive, scenario-based discussion rather than passive learning • Practical challenges for firms arising from the proposals, including how larger firms could deal with the requirement to deliver training in small groups and tailoring content to real-world ethical dilemmas • The proposed new powers for the SRA to mandate targeted training in particular sectors or risk areas, with potential enforcement action taken against those who fail to do it • The wider direction of travel - a shift towards embedding ethical decision-making and evidencing competence in practice, not just technical knowledge The consultation is open until 15 July 2026. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the consultation further, please contact our regulatory specialists Nick Leale or Andrew Pavlovic. Nick and Andrew also provide training on SRA regulatory matters, often in conjunction with our employment partners Beth Hale, Sarah Chilton or Emma Bartlett.