The Solicitors Regulation Authority has defended its work on access to justice after being accused at the Labour party conference of overreaching its remit. 

The SRA sponsored a fringe event organised by the Institute for Government thinktank entitled ‘Levelling up or left behind: what role should regulators play?’ The SRA's director of communications, Benedict Fisher, was one of three speakers.

Fisher told delegates that as well as overseeing the qualification process and taking action against solicitors in ‘rare instances’ when things go wrong, the SRA's role includes access to justice. The SRA was tackling lack of access by exploring ‘the potential around technology and innovation’, using fintech as an example where 'huge change' had empowered consumers.

‘We have not seen the same momentum or growth in the legal sector,' Fisher said. The regulator is asking 'Are there any barriers we can remove to technology in legal services and what can we do to facilitate that?’

However in the Q&A session a member of the Society of Labour Lawyers asked: ‘What business is it for the SRA to be getting involved in Conservative party policy of levelling up? What business is it of the SRA to be involved in fintech? All of this is paid for with my practising certificate fee and that’s high enough already, thank you very much.’

Fisher replied that it was important the SRA is independent and delivers on its regulatory objectives. One of those objectives, he said, is around the public interest and access to justice.

The vast majority of the regulator’s budget is dedicated to setting and maintaining high professional standards. ‘But we think looking at technology and innovation and what we can do to encourage that is really important in terms of our duty to ensure we increase access to justice.’

Sitting on a panel discussing to discuss ‘levelling up’ did not mean the SRA was committed to any political party’s agenda, Fisher said. ‘It’s there so it’s worth addressing how we think legal regulation fits into that.’

 

This article is now closed for comment.

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