The SRA Handbook 2011 was launched by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (‘SRA’) on 6 October 2011. The handbook governs every aspect of solicitors’ practice and accommodates new legislation relating to alternative business structures (ABSs).

Within the Handbook is the updated SRA Code of Conduct 2011 (replacing that of 2007). The most substantial change to the Code is a shift of focus from a rule based system to ‘Outcomes Focused Regulation’, which “concentrates on providing positive outcomes which when achieved will benefit and protect clients and the public”.

In practice, this means that whether or not a breach results in disciplinary action relies on the outcome to the client and impact on the service received by the client. The position under the 2007 Code was that if a rule were breached, disciplinary action would follow automatically.

The prevailing view among practitioners is that the changes substantially alter the way firms will work on a day to day basis.