Reporting misconduct: all change?

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced a public consultation on proposed changes to its rules surrounding the reporting of potential misconduct by law firms. Discussions with firms have highlighted different interpretations of its current rules in terms of the proper stage at which the SRA should be informed of possible misconduct, and the evidence threshold for doing so; the proposed changes are intended to clarify the process. Following the eight-week consultation, the SRA’s Code of Conduct will be updated to reflect the changes, and any amendments are expected to come into force in 2019. The consultation can be found here.