Regulators want to extend the framework of competence to include ethics and technology in order to maintain client confidence in the profession. 

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is proposing changes to the 10-year-old  Statement of Solicitor Competence, which sets out what is required of practitioners and provides clients with a clear indication of what they can expect of those they instruct. The revised statement is subject to consultation which runs until 3 December.

Ethics is a key element of the possible revisions, with solicitors potentially expected (as standard) to understand and apply their ethical duties and be able to prioritise when they come into conflict with each other. They would also be expected to understand when and how to raise concerns about ethical issues or unethical behaviour.

In the section of the statement of competence dealing with legal knowledge, there is a proposed, explicit addition that solicitors should have an understanding of technology - including A - as well as law. 

The changes are likely to have been influenced by the Post Office Horizon scandal, in which lawyers have been criticised for not understanding which of their duties took priority and for not reporting misconduct they might have encountered.

The proposed changes have been drawn up following feedback from nearly 150 solicitors, law firms, educators, representative bodies and academics.

Beth Black, SRA director of education and training, said: ‘Every day, people and businesses place their trust in solicitors. They should be confident that the solicitors they turn to have the knowledge, skills and professional judgement to provide a competent service.’