SRA wheels out new solicitors Code of Conduct

The new-look Solicitors Code of Conduct will come into effect from 1 July, 2007, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced today (19 March).

The new guidelines will replace the Law Society's old Guide to the Professional Code of Conduct for Solicitors and comprise 25 non-mandatory rules for practising solicitors and law firm managers.

Lawyers will be encouraged to access the latest version of the code online after it received final ministerial approval this week. Under the reforms, law firms will be required to replace the phrase 'Regulated by the Law Society' on their notepaper with the new wording 'Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority'.

The move comes as the Bar Council has also kicked off a full-scale review of professional standards, after this month moving to redraft the Bar's code of conduct from scratch in an attempt to modernise the profession.

Commenting on the new guidelines, SRA chair Peter Williamson said: "We hope that solicitors and consumers will welcome the direct language and clear structure used in the Code."

He added: "In the run up to the introduction, it is particularly important for firms to get familiar with the changes to business management. There will be a high level of responsibility placed on principals for the effective management of their firms."