The SRA is running rolling programme of checks on all law firm websites to make sure you are complying with our transparency rules.
They will be checking all law firm sites, including those of firms who have previously filled in a self-declaration stating that they are fully compliant. Embarrassing if you have said it is compliant when it's not! When they do find it is not compliant they will tell you and give you a time limit for fixing this and again declaring if it is compliant. This service is just the review. We can also help after an SRA audit, but that will be on an hourly basis.
Here is a link to the SRA Transparency Rules: https://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/standards-regulations/transparency-rules/
Here is a link to the SRA Guidance, updated in September 2024: https://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/guidance/transparency-in-price-and-service/
fill in the web form below
or
or email: [email protected]
What we will doReview your website and produce a report of what you need to do to be compliant. We will also review your Client Care Letter/Engagement/Terms of Business letters and Complaints Policies (one set of each). All work is carried out remotely. |
£500 + VAT
The current thinking is that Legal Aid tenders will become available this autumn (2021). If you want to tender you will need to have the SQM or Lexcel quality mark. SQM is likely to take at least 3 months to obtain and Lexcel 4. Time to get moving.
Give us a shout if you would like to get some help.
Contact for info: Ingemar on 07887 524507 or [email protected]
Before someone can sit an SQE assessment, you will need to create your SQE account. Registration is now open, and you’ll need to follow these steps:
For further information here is the link to the SRA page: https://sqe.sra.org.uk/registering-and-booking
For bookings here is the link: https://sqe.sra.org.uk/registering-and-booking/booking-assessments
If you're an apprentice you must create an SQE account, activate it and log in.
Then you’ll need to fill in your profile - this includes verifying your identity and letting us know about any reasonable adjustments you will need when taking the assessments.
You will need to make sure that your employer or training provider has nominated Kaplan SQE as their End Point Assessment organisation.
If you employ or train an apprentice who plans to take the SQE, you must register your apprentice by emailing the apprenticeship team at [email protected]. You will need to provide them with the name and Unique Learner Number of the apprentice. This will ensure that we record them as an apprentice in their SQE account.
General info about the SQE & QWE: https://hunningsconsultancy.co.uk/the-new-sqe-exam-and-qualification-method/
SQE Exam Dates: https://hunningsconsultancy.co.uk/sqe-dates-of-exams/
SQE Training Providers: https://hunningsconsultancy.co.uk/sqe-training-providers/
We have blogged extensively about QWE and invite you to visit some of the blogs. URLs are listed below.
Should you not have a solicitor who can ‘Confirm’ your QWE then WE CAN HELP.
Here’s a link to how: https://hunningsconsultancy.co.uk/external-qwe-certification-service-2/
For information about the SQE see here: https://hunningsconsultancy.co.uk/the-new-sqe-exam-and-qualification-method/
Feel free to contact Ingemar on: 07887 524507 or [email protected]
9th July 2021 the UK government released 2 new Practice Directions for the process for the appointment of Official Solicitor as litigation friend for:
a) someone lacking capacity to conduct personal welfare proceedings and
b) for the person concerned for property and financial affairs proceedings in the Court of Protection
This contains information and guidance around:
This practice note also contains details of how to contact the Official Solicitor, including out of hours applications relating to urgent medical treatment issues.
Here is a link to where you may download it: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appointment-of-the-official-solicitor-in-welfare-proceedings-practice-note?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=2bf1f0a5-8a23-449b-88ef-dbf6736d78d3&utm_content=daily
This contains information and guidance around:
Here is a link to where you may download it: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appointment-of-the-official-solicitor-in-property-and-affairs-proceedings-practice-note?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=78193e4f-bfa6-47df-9df3-553ea0df5f6b&utm_content=daily
We are not giving legal advice, but as providers of business support to law firms, we thought this information might be of some assistance to some of our clients. For more info about our services please visit our website: www.hunningsconsultancy.co.uk or contact Ingemar at [email protected] or on 07887 524507
I don't know what's going on, but over the last couple of months we've been contacted out of the blue by 3 solicitors firms asking us to carry out a stress test on their compliance - so they are prepared should the SRA want to visit. No advertising. Fortunately we can cover all bases: AML, Solicitors Code of Conduct, SRA Accounts Rules and Data Protection.
Our expert on all things to do with AML and the Solicitors Code of Conduct/Rules. Paul also writes our OPM.
A national expert of the SRA Accounts Rules - an accountant with specific expertise in all things to do with the finances of solicitors. Also involved in preparing benchmarking reports.
Our Data Protection Officer, expert in all things to do with Data Protection, GDPR compliance and interactions with the ICO.
Founder of HCL, solicitor and ex-partner, department head and board member - brings an understanding of how your firm works and a commercial focus as compliance has to work within the environment of the commercial reality of running a business. Ingemar will lead and co-ordinate the projects.
Ingemar on 07887 524507 or [email protected]
Ingemar was recently interviewed for this radio show in which the presenter, Adrian Pryce, has a brief chat with various people in business. Here's a link to the podcast in case of interest. It's about 15 mins long.
Absolutely delighted to learn yesterday that one of our clients has completed and obtained the ISAME accreditation. This is based upon advice we gave several months ago and then through assistance we gave. It is actually a medico-legal firm.
IASME stands for “Information Assurance for Small and Medium Enterprises". It is the highest level of cyber-security accreditation that SMEs would normally go for. There are about 30,000 businesses and organisations (including public authorities and government bodies) which currently have the accreditation. Often organs of the state insist you have this if you are to work with them.
For more info about this, obtaining the lesser cyber security accreditations of Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials plus or indeed our external DPO Service (Data Protection Officer) then feel free to give us a shout.
Ingemar: 07887 524507 or [email protected]
Here is also a link to our External DPO Service. These data protection services are for all business, not just those in the Legal Services sector.
An Independent AML Audit for your firm is required by Regulation 21 of The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017.
Did you know this?
The SRA reviewed 74 solicitors’ firms between September 2019 to October 2020 and found that only about 20% had ever conducted an AML Audit.
The SRA have given notice that they will be increasing their programme of visits to assess AML compliance.
There is more AML legislation on the way in 2022.
Here is a link to more info & some assistance: https://hunningsconsultancy.co.uk/independent-aml-audit/
We can carry out an
Or contact Ingemar Hunnings on 07887 524507 or [email protected]
Delighted to be able to announce that we've had our 1st client's QWE approved by the SRA - possibly the first anywhere. I've developed a service as an External Confirming Solicitor to help those Aspiring Solicitors who do not have a solicitor in their organisation to confirm the QWE. Here's a link to the service: https://hunningsconsultancy.co.uk/external-qwe-certification-service-2/
I've been working with a number of Aspiring Solicitors since September 2020, both in the UK & overseas. I've been liaising closely with the SRA as they published forms and clarified their process and procedure. A great relief to learn that what we've done has been approved.
If you have any questions or want more info then get in touch.
+447887 524507
Here are answers to questions raised at a recent webinar Ingemar Hunnings ran for Aspiring Solicitors about the SQE & QWE. These have come from the SRA. We hope they will be helpful.
1. Do you have anything that sets out the format of each exam and the expected plan for the day. For example, SQE 1 is 10 hours – it that over 1 day or two, how will the day run etc
We are planning to launch a website shortly which will have all the information on it. It will also have the booking system on it. I understand that the website will launch soon, but I don’t have a date from IT as to when it will go live. The booking system will go live a few weeks after that.
In the interim, we have published this information to help candidates plan for the assessments. This information will be moved to the new website, and at that point we may have more details and may expand it.
https://www.sra.org.uk/globalassets/documents/sra/sqe1-what-happens-on-the-day.pdf?version=4ae646
2. Does one have to take the exams in sequence SQE1 first & passed before you can take the SQE2?
Yes – SQE1 has to be taken and passed before sitting SQE2.
The other steps to qualification (degree or equivalent, QWE) can be done in any order, and can be done before, during or after taking the SQE assessments
3. QWE - does the Confirming Solicitor have to have a current practicing certificate?
No, they do not need to hold a current practising certificate. That is because, as they are still on the Roll of Solicitors, we can still enforce the principles of professional ethics which apply to solicitors when they confirm QWE, such as honesty and integrity. Our website confirms that they do not need to hold a current practising certificate at https://www.sra.org.uk/trainees/qualifying-work-experience/qualifying-work-experience-candidates/
4. May an aspiring solicitor self-study for the SQE 1 & 2 – if so, can you point me to any materials that would help them
Our list of providers includes publishers of self-study materials. The publishers listed include Bloomsbury, City Law Series, Oxford University Press and Routledge. We don’t keep details of what they are publishing – candidates should contact them direct for details.
5. Is there a url you may point me to where aspiring solicitors may go to register for the exams (with Kaplan I assume). Do they pay through that as well?
That will be on the new website. The best way candidates can get notification is to subscribe to the SQE Update alerts, which will send them notification when booking live. The new website will also handle payment.
6. Overseas exam centres – I believe that Pearson Vue centres will be viewed, but I cannot find any detail on the SRA websites on this or how or where oversees aspiring solicitors can go to check this and book a centre (important as they may have to travel a long way still to get to a centre
Kaplan are still finalising venues with Pearson Vue. Currently, we know that the UK venues are planned to include London, Cardiff and Manchester, but we don’t yet have any details on the overseas venues. As soon as we have the details, we will publish them, and they will be listed on the new website. All the information we currently have is set out at https://www.sra.org.uk/students/sqe/sqe-assessments/#collapse_01fd
