Solicitors Account Rules 2018 *** Half Day Session

Date: Tuesday 29 May 2018
Time: 13:00 registration & lunch 14:00 – 17:00 seminar
Venue: 3PB Chambers, The Colmore Building, 20 Colmore Circus, Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6AT
3 Learning Hours
Fee: Member Fee for Fee Earners 99.00; Member Fee Support Staff 55.00;
Non-Member Fee for Fee Earners 120.00; Non-Member Fee Support Staff 75.00

Speaker: Linda Lambert

The SRA released their revised rules in June 2017 with a potential implementation date of Autumn 2018, this is yet to be confirmed. However, the 2nd draft appears to be the form the new rules will take.

So, what have we been given so far?

The rules are greatly reduced in number-all the core rules are still maintained and ‘toolkits for help in interpretation’ are to be released as and when the SRA perceive a need.

The Account Rules are less prescriptive and are designed to allow Firms to deliver legal services in a manner to suit their clients and the type of legal advice being given.

You will be expected to follow certain standards of behaviour with the details of how to do so being left up to the Solicitor rather than a rule book. The profession will be no less self-regulated but the approach of our regulator, the SRA, will be more on how clients expected outcomes are being managed rather than dictating the methods to be used.

This makes knowledge of the rules all the more important to enable an informed understanding when considering application and compliance with the rules.

For those who have not yet looked at the new rules or wish to look at possible implementation once they are in place, this half day can be used as a start in the process. Delegates will have opportunities to discuss interpretation of, as well as question how, to ensure compliance with the new rules in the context of their firm.

Note that all of the above will still be done, as always, in light of the fundamental and underlying premise of ‘keeping client monies safe’.