The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s annual assessment of continuing competence has found most solicitors keep knowledge and skills up-to-date, with evidence of robust systems and controls in firms to ensure solicitors remain competent and deliver good quality legal services.
The assessment was based on 123 training records from solicitors in criminal law and employment law across 66 firms, with all respondents found to have completed some form of learning and development during the review period.
Most activity was based on maintaining technical legal expertise, but the SRA acknowledged it had not assessed “the quality or effectiveness of the learning and development carried out”.
In almost half of cases solicitors who kept a record of their learning and development did not record how the training need was identified.
The review found limited evidence that solicitors carry out learning and development focused on ethics, which SRA policy manager Richard Williams said is “a concern” in a blog accompanying the release of the report. “We expect solicitors to reflect on and keep their understanding of professional obligations and ethical competence up to date”, he added.
The number of competence-related reports received by the SRA increased from 2,720 in 2024 to 4,038 in 2025. As a proportion of all reports received figures remain stable at 23% due to an overall increase in all reports.
However, according to Williams the competence reports contained evidence that communication could be strengthened, “including providing clearer information about risks, options, potential outcomes, costs, timescales and key deadlines”. Solicitors might find it helpful to reflect on these areas to support clients in understanding their choices and making informed decisions, he suggested.
Some communications with clients lacked clarity on legal information, the report found, with insufficient information about available courses of action and the reasons for recommendations. As a result clients reported delays, uncertainty and difficulty making informed decisions.
In a recent SRA consultation on the future of continuing competence, proposals include a requirement for solicitors to record learning and development needs and how they are addressed, complete annual mandatory ethics training; and SRA-mandated learning and development where competence concerns are identified.
Next steps include a “listening exercise”, the SRA said, to understand the factors driving unethical behaviour and what can be done to address them and gain more understanding of how individuals are keeping knowledge and skills up to date.
This will include “an assessment of the extent to which solicitors are aware of, and use, warning notices, guidance, continuing competence resources and the Statement of Solicitor Competence when planning their learning and development”, the SRA added.
“We also check whether they have changed role or practice area, and if so, whether there has been any learning and development in the new practice area.”
