The Solicitors’ Regulation Authority has published a consultation paper (open until 15 July 2026) setting out plans to tighten SRA oversight of how solicitors keep their knowledge and skills up-to-date. Mandatory recording-keeping, along with other proposals, could come into force in the 2027-2028 practising year.

Keeping records

Over the last three years or so, the SRA has been undertaking annual assessments of solicitors with the aim of identifying “competence risks and challenges” across the profession. But the SRA says it has found “shortcomings” in how some solicitors are keeping their knowledge and skills up-to-date; and that some “cannot demonstrate that their learning and development is a result of regular and meaningful reflection”.

All solicitors, however long they have been qualified, are expected to take responsibility for keeping their knowledge and skills up-to-date. How and when they do this is not prescribed (yet); rather, they are required to “reflect” on their areas legal practice, and ethical and professional obligations, reflect and identify their learning and development needs and address those needs.

Solicitors must keep updated training records and “evaluate” their effectiveness, but the regulator does not dictate how solicitors should keep their training record.

If the SRA’s proposals are implemented, there will be a shift from ‘best practice’ to a mandatory requirement to recording-keeping, with the aim of giving the regulator “greater assurance” that solicitors are maintaining their competence.

What’s proposed?

Many solicitors are, says the SRA, focusing more on their technical legal knowledge than the necessary wider skills; with many failing to demonstrate that they have carried out regular learning and development relating to ethics. Further, some solicitors have been unaware of (or not accounted for) relevant warning notices and guidance.

The key proposals are:

Solicitors will be required keep records of their learning and development needs and how these were identified and addressed.
They will be obliged to retain these records for at least three years.
Solicitors will have to take part in mandatory ethics group discussions for at least three hours, every year.
Solicitors could be required to complete specific learning and development where the SRA identifies a competence concern.
Furthermore, individuals who are not SRA-authorised but work within an SRA-regulated organisation could be required to undertake learning and development if a competence concern is identified.
Solicitors are urged to respond to the consultation here before it closes on 15 July.
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