Hello and welcome to your Compliance Update for April 2025. I’m here to walk you through the latest regulatory developments that legal professionals need to be aware of, including upcoming obligations, fresh guidance, and a look at where policy is heading over the next few months. Let’s get into it.Let’s start with an area that affects all law firms—diversity data. Every two years, firms are required to complete a diversity data questionnaire issued by the SRA. This year’s version is now available, and although the submission deadline isn’t until summer, it’s wise to begin reviewing the questions and preparing your responses now. Early preparation will make the return much more manageable.Now, if you're involved in training or supervising future solicitors, there's some important new guidance around qualifying work experience. The SRA has clarified what ‘good’ qualifying work experience should look like. It’s not just about clocking hours—it’s about providing a varied and meaningful experience that reflects the breadth of a solicitor’s role. That includes not only technical legal tasks, but also encouraging trainees to reflect on their work and confront real-life ethical issues—things like anti-money laundering and managing conflicts of interest. These are essential components of a well-rounded legal education.On a related note, you can still validate retrospective qualifying experience, as long as you’ve retained supporting records. But if your firm has destroyed older records in line with its data retention policy, it may not be possible to verify past experience—so keep that in mind when managing documentation.Shifting gears a bit—if you’re a solicitor who doesn’t currently hold a practising certificate, you’ll need to take action soon. The annual application to remain on the roll is now open via MySRA. This needs to be submitted before the deadline of 28th of May 2025. Missing that deadline could result in your name being removed from the roll, so it’s an important one not to overlook. If you want a deeper dive into practising certificate conditions or what counts as a serious breach, you can refer to Datalaw’s dedicated course on the subject.Meanwhile, over at the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, there’s an ongoing consultation that might signal a shift in how competence is monitored. The CLC is proposing a new approach to continuing professional development—moving to a system that includes assessed hours. Under this plan, professionals would complete eight hours of CPD each year—split evenly between assessed and unassessed activities. Essentially, some of your CPD would need to include a formal check on your understanding or performance. This consultation is open until 11th of April 2025, and while it’s a CLC initiative, the SRA has also flagged this topic for review.In fact, the SRA’s latest annual review on continuing competence hinted at similar changes ahead. They’ve stated clearly that all solicitors should be able to demonstrate how they’re keeping their skills and knowledge current. And we can expect a consultation from the SRA later this year, which will likely propose formal requirements for tracking and evidencing your development. They’ve also promised to offer practical guidance on what that evidence might look like. If you’d like to stay ahead of these developments, be sure to check out Datalaw’s Autumn Update 2024, where we unpack what the SRA’s evolving agenda might mean for your practice. And keep an eye out for our upcoming webinar, which will take you through the latest CLC Code of Conduct changes in more detail.And that brings us to the end of this month’s Compliance Update. Thanks for tuning in. Staying ahead of regulatory changes is key to avoiding surprises and maintaining high professional standards. Be sure to check the links and resources mentioned, and as always, we’ll keep you informed as further updates roll in.Until next time—stay informed, and stay compliant.

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Regulatory Update - April 2025