About Us

An introduction

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is the largest regulator of legal services in England and Wales, regulating more than 200,000 solicitors and 10,000 law firms.

We work to protect the public and support the rule of law and administration of justice. We do this by making sure practising solicitors, as well as those entering the profession, meet the high standards the public expects. We oversee all education and training requirements, license individuals and firms to practise and enforce compliance against the standards we set. We also want to make sure people have real choice in a fair legal market – making it easier for them to access expert legal help when they need it.

Our 2020–23 Corporate Strategy sets out three strategic priorities:

  • Objective one – We will set and maintain high professional standards for solicitors and law firms as the public would expect and ensure we provide an equally high level of operational service.
  • Objective two – We will actively support the adoption of legal technology and other innovation that helps to meet the needs of the public, business community, regulated entities and the economy.
  • Objective three – We will continually build our understanding of emerging opportunities and challenges for the legal sector and our role in effectively regulating it.

Management, structure and governance of the SRA

Our work is overseen by our Board, made up of six lay people and five solicitors. The Board is supported by our chief executive and senior management team, and is helped in its work by committees chaired by board members.

We regulate solicitors, organisations and other individuals providing legal services under the Legal Services Act 2007 (LSA). We sit within The Law Society Group, alongside The Law Society, though we operate independently and have our own governance arrangements.

We must act in a way which is compatible with, and most appropriate to meet the regulatory objectives set out in section one of the LSA 2007:

  • protect and promote the public interest
  • support the constitutional principle of the rule of law
  • improve access to justice
  • protect and promote the interests of consumers
  • promote competition in the provision of legal services
  • encourage an independent, strong, diverse and effective legal profession
  • increase public understanding of the citizen’s legal rights and duties
  • promote and maintain adherence (by authorised persons) to the professional principles.