The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) launched a consultation on 22 April 2026 proposing significant changes to how solicitors are required to demonstrate that they are maintaining their compliance. If these changes go ahead, the updated rules will require all solicitors to keep a record of how they are reviewing and addressing their learning and development needs.

For further information on the consultation, which closes on 15 July 2026, access the details here:

www.sra.org.uk/competence-requirements

The proposals are in response to the SRA’s annual assessment of the continuing competence which was published in 2025. That review found that while most solicitors keep their knowledge and skills current, monitoring work had identified a proportion who were not meeting the required standards. Due to its findings, the SRA concluded that the existing framework, which requires solicitors to reflect on and address their learning and development needs but does not require them to formally record this process, was not consistently driving the behaviours expected by the regulator.

Aileen Armstrong, Executive Director – Strategy, Innovation and External Affairs, said: 

“The work a solicitor does can have a profound impact on individuals, families and businesses. Solicitors have to maintain their competence to deliver vital services.

Following engagement with the profession and others, we are proposing strengthening the requirements in some areas. This includes new arrangements to support solicitors to navigate ethical challenges. We look forward to engaging further through consultation to ensure that we have the right rules in place.”

What Is the SRA Proposing?

As part of the proposals, there are three key changes that could be implemented:

• Written records of learning: One of the most significant changes will be the requirement for all solicitors to keep a written record of their learning and development needs (this is currently a best practice requirement and the current obligation is to keep a record of competence rather than need), how those changes were identified, and what steps they have taken to address them. At present, there are no formal recording obligations of needs, so these new proposals from the SRA could prove to be a substantial change for individual regulatory obligations.

• Required annual discussions: All solicitors would be required to participate annually in discussions where they will work through ethical dilemmas and scenarios with other solicitors.

• Mandated development: If implemented, these rules would give the SRA the power to require some or all solicitors to complete specific learning and development in the future when concerns or repeated patterns regarding competence emerge. This is a newly proposed intervention tool that does not currently exist within continued the competence obligations.

What Does This Mean for Your Law Firm?

If these proposals are adopted, you will need to ensure your internal training and development processes support individual solicitors in meeting the recording and declaration requirements. That means having clear policies, controls, and procedures for identifying, documenting and addressing development needs, and for organising and recording annual ethics discussions.

If your firm already has well-documented continuing competence processes, you will have less to do. The same is true for firms already on our supported compliance services. If and when the rules change, we will update your policies to reflect any new obligations.

Firms where this currently happens informally, or inconsistently, or where there is a lack of visibility into current continuing competence obligations across all teams, will need to do more.

The third proposal will need careful consideration. If the SRA is given the ability to require specific training at the sector level, it would introduce a compliance obligation that could arise with limited notice, depending on how and when it is used.

How To Respond to The Consultation

The SRA is running a live webinar on 13 May 2026 for those who want to hear more before the consultation closes. Following the consultation period, the SRA Board will consider all responses before making any final decisions. Any rule changes will then require formal approval from the Legal Services Board before they are implemented.

How Our Compliance Teams Can Help

At the Regulation and Compliance Office (RACO), we work with law firms to review and strengthen their compliance structure, including how continuing competence is managed across the practice. For those already on our assisted compliance services, we will be in touch with any required amendments to your policies, if or when any new rules come into force.  

For our members and non-members, if you need support preparing for the changes ahead or if you have concerns about your current compliance framework, contact a member of our team, and we will be happy to help.

Our recent article, ‘Is Your Employee Handbook Still Compliant?’, provides some helpful related information.

Contact Us

To ask any questions about the Regulation and Compliance Office and how we can support your Law Firm, please call us on 0203 985 8550, complete the online enquiry form, or email us at info@regulationandcomplianceoffice.co.uk