Cybercrime, spotting money launderers and reducing red tape for law firms are all part of the agenda for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Board members during their visit the Isle of Wight today (Wednesday).
The Board Members are meeting with local solicitors to hear their views on these and other issues at an event in Cowes hosted by the Isle of Wight Law Society.
Enid Rowlands, Chair of the SRA’s Board, said:
“Instances of cybercrime are increasing and are of great concern to us all. We want to know how Isle of Wight solicitors view these problems, and what else they think should, or could, be done to protect the public and firms more effectively. It’s one of a number of subjects we want to discuss, along with identifying attempts to launder the proceeds of crime and the drive to reduce bureaucracy for law firms.”
She added:
“I am delighted to be visiting the Isle of Wight with colleagues. It’s an opportunity for solicitors to get directly involved in discussions at the heart of what we do at the SRA – protecting the public, upholding professional standards and supporting professional values.”
Other topics on the agenda include SRA support for small firms, upholding and maintaining competence in legal practice, and latest SRA activity.
Kate Green, Isle of Wight Law Society President, said:
“We are delighted that the SRA is coming to listen to the views of solicitors practising on the Isle of Wight. We are looking forward to entering into an open dialogue with the SRA and appreciate the opportunity to put forward the experience of solicitors at a grass roots level.”
The Isle of Wight is the third visit on a 17-stop SRA tour of law societies across England and Wales this year.
The SRA is the independent regulator of solicitors and law firms in England and Wales, protecting consumers and supporting the rule of law and the administration of justice. The SRA does this by overseeing all education and training requirements necessary to practise as a solicitor, licensing individuals and firms to practise, setting the standards of the profession and regulating and enforcing compliance against these standards.
Further information about the SRA is available at www.sra.org.uk.
