The rule that solicitors need three years in practice before setting up their own firms could soon be dropped by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).


Currently, all law firms must have a manager who is 'qualified to supervise', which means they have been entitled to practise as a solicitor for 36 months and have had 12 hours of management training.



However, in one of a number of consultation papers released on the rule changes required to allow for legal disciplinary partnerships (LDPs), the SRA asks whether - as it moves to firm-based regulation - this limit is still necessary. Rule 5 already places clear duties on firms to have supervision and management systems in place, while both the rules and law are clear on the supervision of reserved activities. The consultation asks: 'In the light of these existing provisions, is the requirement to have at least one manager who is "qualified to supervise" in each firm now outdated?'



SRA consultant Alison Crawley said it was gathering views on a wide range of subjects and she hoped solicitors would respond.



- See: sra.org.uk/consultations.page



Neil Rose