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SRA consults on solicitor competence updates covering ethics, AI, supervision and wellbeing

By LexCircuit Desk · · AI-drafted, human-reviewed

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has opened an eight-week consultation on updating the Statement of Solicitor Competence and SQE functioning legal knowledge, proposing stronger ethics duties, explicit AI and technology competence, a new supervision section and health and wellbeing expectations. The consultation runs until December 3, 2026, with a final statement planned for April 2027 and effect from September 2027.

Text (Law Gazette) → · Legal Futures, Solicitors Journal

Key points

  • Proposed ethics updates would require solicitors to prioritize conflicting ethical duties and know when and how to raise concerns about unethical behavior.Law GazetteLegal Futures
  • Technology and AI would be added to maintaining competence, checking AI research outputs against primary sources, and using technology appropriately when drafting.Legal Futures
  • A new supervision section, influenced by the Mazur ruling, would require supervisors to oversee technology use; a wellbeing section would address seeking support.Legal Futures
  • The proposals follow feedback from nearly 150 solicitors, firms, educators and academics.Law GazetteSolicitors Journal

Sources3 articles across 3 outlets

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