SRA Update
Issue 148 - March 2026
Welcome to the latest issue of SRA Update. In this issue, read about the priorities of new Chief Executive Sarah Rapson as outlined to the Law Society Gazette. We also have an update on our work on investigating potential misconduct linked to the Post Office Horizon scandal. And we have published the improved performance targets we are aiming for following discussion with the Legal Services Board. Finally, we have free webinars on the development of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination and how all staff should be involved in anti-money laundering work. Find out how to watch.
Read our newly published statement, providing an update on our investigations into potential misconduct linked to the Post Office Horizon IT scandal. As well as explaining the types of issues we are investigating, the statement outlines how our on-going work interacts with the Public Inquiry and police investigations, and for which type of cases we are likely to be able to act soonest.
Read more about: Update on our investigation into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal
Our new Chief Executive, Sarah Rapson, gave her first interview in February. Sarah told the Law Society Gazette that ‘there is a reset to do at the SRA’, including how the organisation engages with the profession and its operational delivery. Read what she had to say about her vision for change and what she has learned from her meetings across the profession in her first months in charge.
Read more about: New SRA Chief Executive: ‘We are serious about change’
We have published performance targets to help track improvements we are making both generally to how we are working, and specifically following the Legal Services Board’s (LSB’s) formal censure and directions regarding our handling of SSB Law Group.
Read more about: Performance targets for improvements published
We continue to make significant progress in helping former clients of PM Law following our intervention into the firm in February. Tens of thousands of documents have been secured from 25 different offices. More than 17,000 clients have been contacted, and over £9 million has been returned so far.
Read more about: Significant progress made supporting clients of PM Law
If you are a former employee of PM Law Ltd, you can find information on our website about the range of organisations that can provide you with advice and support. We also provide information for those who were trainees at the firm.
Read more about: Support for employees of PM Law and associated firms
We have published our latest aggregated law firm diversity data. For the first time this includes an analysis of how the representation of certain groups has changed over a 10-year period. Overall, the data shows that diversity in the profession is increasing, but more can still be done to move to a truly representative position, especially in some areas.
If you are a solicitor without a practising certificate, you must tell us each year if you wish to remain on the roll of solicitors. If this is you, you will need to apply during the application window (1 April - 28 May). Ahead of this, you will need to make sure you have an authenticator app set up on a mobile device so you can access mySRA.
Read more about: Get ready to remain on the roll: authentication for mySRA
How well do your fee earners understand anti-money laundering (AML) risk? Our free webinar will go through some of the controls designed to manage your firm’s risk. We will share what we have seen over the last year and apply AML controls to a fictional case study, to help you understand how they work.
Read more about: Webinar – Understanding money laundering controls
Learn more about developments in the SQE at our free two-part webinar aimed at training providers, employers and anyone supporting aspiring solicitors. We will be joined by experts from our assessment provider Kaplan on Thursday 26 March to look at data behind the first four years of the exam, and resources now available for candidates.
Read more about: Webinar – SQE; what we know, what we’re doing, and what’s next
Are you looking for a new challenge? In March, we will be recruiting for roles in roles in Legal and Enforcement, Ethics, IT, Business Improvement, Corporate Complaints and Information Governance, including legally qualified roles.
Welcome to the latest issue of Compliance News. We have updated our guidance on claims management activity in line with recent warning notices we have issued on no win, no fee claims and motor finance compensation. Read more about those updates in this issue. Also updated is the process for applying for a licence to represent clients subject to sanctions. And there are new digital ID checks for anti-money laundering purposes, find out more.
We have updated our claims management activity guidance. This comes on the back of the warning notice we issued last month. The guidance builds on points in the warning notice and also focuses on making sure you have clear instructions from clients.
Read more about: Important update to guidance on claims management activity
Working with the Financial Conduct Authority, we have published a joint statement reminding claims management companies and law firms of obligations when handling motor finance claims. Areas covered include the need to make sure clients are not signing up to multiple representatives for the same claim or being charged excessive termination fees.
Read more about: Your obligations when handling motor finance claims
The government has released new guidance on the use of digital ID verification. If you are in scope of the money laundering regulations, this guidance provides direction on when, and how, digital identity checks can be used.
Read more about: New guidance on using digital ID for money laundering checks
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has released guidance on how it prioritises licence applications. The framework will help applicants understand how cases are assessed and the requirements for clear, complete and well‑evidenced information.
Read more about: New framework for prioritising sanctions licence applications
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