Solicitors Regulation Authority

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The Solicitors Regulation Authority was launched on January 29 2007. It is the regulatory body for more than 100,000 solicitors in England and Wales. Its purpose is "to set, promote and secure in the public interest standards of behaviour and professional performance necessary to ensure that clients receive a good service and that the rule of law is upheld"^[1] .

It was previously known as the Law Society Regulation Board, but changed its name to emphasise its independence; it remains part of the Law Society of England and Wales due to administrative and legal reasons, but operates separately from it.

The Law Society delegated regulatory powers to the SRA and charged it to exercise those functions independently and in the public interest. This was done following a report by Sir David Clementi of all legal services in England and Wales, which recommended that professional bodies holding both regulatory and representative responsibilities should separate those roles. (see Report of the Review of the Regulatory Framework for Legal Services in England and Wales).

The SRA is headed by Antony Townsend (Chief Executive), who reports to the SRA Board chaired by Peter Williamson.