SRA accepts perception it acts in the interests of large firms

The SRA have laid out new plans to support small law firms after admitting there is a perception it is more interested in the actions of larger entities.

SRA chief executive Paul Philip used his opening address at the regulator's national conference for compliance officers in Birmingham to launch a discussion about the issues facing small firms.

"We have been very good at building relationships with large firms and those deemed to be high impact. The next stage of our development has to be looking at smaller businesses and how we can support them."

Philip continued: "Small firms play a really important part in the provision of good legal services and we want to do everything we can to provide support. We are committed to making sure that our regulation works for all types of firm and to do that we need to be much more approachable and accessible.

"I am asking small firms to tell us what would work for you, to join our virtual reference group and to use the additional services we are offering."

The SRA's newly published discussion paper aims to improve the regulator's relationship with small firms through a number of promises about how they will be regulated.

An extract from the paper reads: 'The reality is that small firms are an essential and valuable part of the regulated community in providing legal services to a wide range of consumers. We accept these perceptions of the SRA do exist and we must continually work to improve our communications with and support for small firms.'

The discussion paper gives a range of suggested support mechanisms for small firms, including specific pages on the regulator's website as well as a dedicated helpline and resources to deal with issues such as opening a small practice.

The SRA also announced that they will look at how to make authorisation changes and compliance officer approval easier for small firms and consider additional support from its supervision team.

The professional ethics helpline and supervision team will each create a dedicated service for small firms in 2015. This comes as new research recommends a review of ethics education within the legal profession with two out of three legal professionals finding it hard to 'do the right thing' in their jobs.

The full discussion paper on small firms can be accessed here.

John van der Luit-Drummond is legal reporter for Solicitors Journal