SRA Principles Flashcards
What are the 7 SRA Principles?
- Act in a way which upholds the rule of law and the proper administration of justice
- Acts in a way that upholds public trust and confidence
- Act with independence
- Act with honesty
- Act with integrity
- Act in a way to encourage equality, diversity & inclusion
- Act in the best interests of client
Where is the ethical conduct of a solicitor detailed?
SRA Standards & Regulations
(i.e standard requirements that the SRA expects to do for clients & in the public interest)
What is the SDT?
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal - an independent court dealing with breaches of professional conduct.
What is the SRA Enforcement Strategy?
Factors which the SRA will consider in assessing the seriousness
of a breach.
What is the purpose of the SRA Principles?
‘Fundamental expected behaviour of those regulated to uphold’
What is the scope of the Principles & who do they apply to?
All individuals that provide legal services
In a conflict of interest between the principles what takes preference over a clients interest?
Those which safeguard the wider public interest.
E.g Rule of Law, Public Confidence
What should a solicitor inform a client outweighs their interest?
Their duty to the court & other professional obligations
Lord Hoffmann - (Arthur JS Hall v Simons 2002 1 AC 615) re conflict?
Lawyers conducting litigation owe a divided loyalty.
A duty to their clients, but they may not win whatever means.
They also owe a duty to the court and the administration of justice.
When were the SRAs Principles updated?
25 November 2019
What is Principle number 1?
Act in a way that upholds the constitutional principle of the rule of law & the proper administration of justice
What is Principle number 2?
Act in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons
What is Principle number 3?
Act with independence
What is Principle number 4?
Act with honesty
What is Principle number 5?
Act with integrity
What is Principle number 6?
Acts in a way that encourages equality, diversity and inclusion
What is Principle number 7?
Act in the best interests of the client
What is the rule of law?
‘The law is of equal application to all persons, public or private, and this is put into effect by individuals and organisations….and through activities engaging the justice system’
Example of a breach to uphold the rule of law principle 1?
Solicitor is convicted of a criminal offence, engaged in a criminal offence or behaviour that disregards the rule of law
What is proper administration of justice?
Owing a duty to the court and to administration of justice.
Must not mislead the court.
Or interfere with the judicial process and conduct themselves in such a way that they act in the interest of justice