SRA Standards & Regulations - 2026 Essential Update

Introduction

The SRA expects compliance to be more than theoretical knowledge. Since the Standards and Regulations came into force in 2019, firms and individuals must be able to demonstrate compliance in practice - and the regulatory bar continues to rise.

Staying on top of the SRA’s evolving expectations means understanding not just the core rules, but also the SRA’s current risk priorities, enforcement approach, and regulatory hot topics. Failing to keep up can expose both individuals and firms to unnecessary regulatory risk.

Presented by leading compliance expert Tracey Calvert, this new virtual classroom seminar will provide you with an essential update on the SRA Standards and Regulations.

You will gain practical insight into how the rules are applied in real-life scenarios, what the SRA is currently scrutinising, and how to evidence compliance confidently in day-to-day practice.

Ideal for legal professionals including compliance officers and fee earners, this session will refresh your knowledge, strengthen your compliance framework and ensure you - and your firm - are fully aligned with current SRA expectations.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive session will cover the following:

• The SRA’s regulatory objectives, style of regulation and developments with enforcement powers
• High-risk topics in 2026
• The Principles - the significance of these basic ethical duties both in our professional and private lives and hot topics in 2026 including offensive communications, adherence to honesty and integrity principles and conduct in litigation
• An exploration of the key current hot topics from the two Codes of Conduct - professional conduct duties, including duties to the client and to third parties, supervision and business management duties
• The expectations of solicitors in managerial and supervisory roles - how do you ensure accountability in the workplace?
• The Accounts Rules headlines - the SRA’s consultation on changes, what will change and what the SRA is still consulting on
• How to ensure compliance in your workplace - suggestions for your ‘to do’ list
• Suggestions for your compliance toolkit
• A recap of other key features of the SRA’s work in 2025 - fitness to practise issues, AML supervision etc., addressing the public interest concerns, use of artificial intelligence
• What the SRA expects from the firm’s partners, compliance officers and others in senior roles

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.