Professional Competency within the Legal Profession

Following a 12 week consultation period the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed that all solicitors will be required to sign a statement stating they are "competent" to act as a solicitor.

Previously the profession had to subscribe to a process of "Continuing Professional Development" (CPD points) but in future it seems that the SRA would rather move to a different system of establishing competency from within the legal profession.

The outline for the proposed system will be published in April on the SRA's website (SRA.org.uk). It is expected to have three sections including the Statement of Competence, Statement of Knowledge and a "threshold" standard.

Furthermore the proposal will be compulsory for all solicitors from November 2016.

The Competence statement will comprise of four modules;

• Ethics, Professionalism & Judgement
• Technical Legal practice
• Working with other people
• Managing themselves and their own work.

Within the last category the intent is to introduce, "applying good business practice and understanding the financial environments in which solicitors work".

The Chairman of the SRA's Education & Training committee, Martin Coleman, commented, 'The competence statement gives important guidance to solicitors on the standards they are expected to meet. This is for work we are now undertaking on the competences we expect of would-be solicitors, and also to ensure continuing competence following the abolition of the mandatory continuing professional development hours requirement.'

The Legal Services Board will now be expected to amend the rules to allow the SRA to introduce this approach going forward.

If you would like to discuss the changes affecting the legal profession please call our team on 01159 419 141.

The Johnson Partnership

Nottingham Crime Solicitors