Law Society issues practice note on SRA rules for in-house practice

The Law Society has issued a new practice note covering the SRA's rules for in-house solicitors.

The note, which can be viewed here, covers:

• Definition of in-house practice;
• SRA Code of Conduct: outcomes and indicative behaviours; in-house requirements;
• Accounts Rules: exemptions; requirements;
• Practice Framework Rules (PFR): the limitations on in-house practice; circumstances where working for clients other than your employer is permitted;
• Practising certificates;
• Professional indemnity insurance – do you need it? In-house solicitors performing work for their employer; performing work for other clients;
• More information: the practice advice service; the professional ethics helpline.

Chancery Lane said the practice note would be updated in due course to reflect expected changes from the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s red tape initiative and its wider review of the regulation of in-house practice.

Yesterday, the SRA Board approved a proposed change to the PFR to allow local government solicitors to charge charities for legal advice.

This is subject to a geographical restriction – charges can only be made to charities whose objects wholly or partly relate to the employer council’s area.

Along with the other nine red tape initiative proposals, it will now go before the Legal Services Board.