Support Staff

Support staff play an important role in nearly all law firms – whatever the nature of the firm – and as the law and regulations become ever more complex, the benefits which their often unique experience can bring to a firm is invaluable.

However, as the role of support staff increases so too do the pressures and responsibilities which are placed upon them. Nowhere is this more apparent than in relation to the new obligations placed upon all staff within a solicitors’ practice by the amended provisions of the Solicitors Act and the new Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Code of Conduct. Under the new provisions, all staff within a solicitors’ practice are now subject to powers which can see them brought before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal if that person:

  1. has been convicted of a criminal offence which discloses such dishonesty that in the opinion of the SRA it would be undesirable for him to be employed or remunerated by a solicitor in connection with his practice; or
  2. has, in the opinion of the SRA, occasioned or been a party to, with or without the connivance of the solicitor by whom he is or was employed or remunerated, an act or default in relation to that solicitors’ practice which involved conduct on his part of such a nature that in the opinion of the SRA it would be undesirable for him to be employed or remunerated by a solicitor in connection with his practice,

Solicitors Act 1974 section 43

The Lawyers Defence Group can assist all support staff within any legal practice not only in dealing with specific conduct related issues which might apply to them, but also with other issues such as employment, finance and management issues which arise.

In addition, now that support staff can be managers in a legal disciplinary practice (subject to limitations as to the proportion to which those non-lawyer managers bear to those who are qualified as lawyers) the Lawyers Defence Group can also provide advice and guidance on issues relating to partnership and to membership of recognised bodies.

In addition to being able to contact the Lawyers Defence Group for specific one-to-one advice and assistance, users of this web site will also find helpful links to other information provided by organisations such as the The Institute of Legal Finance & Management, the Law Society, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, CILEx, Council for Licensed Conveyancers, the Bar Standards Board and the Bar Council as well as news items, current information and regulatory and conduct related case reports.

To find the information you require, use the drop down menus above or if there is a particular topic with which you require help, use the search box to the right of this page.

If there are specific issues which concern you, then please contact the Lawyers Defence Group and we will arrange for you to be put in touch with a suitably qualified person who can assist you with you. You can contact the Lawyers Defence Group:

  • by telephone during office hours – 0333 888 4070
  • out of hours in an emergency – for example if a partner has been arrested or you believe that your firm might be about to be intervened in – on our emergency phone number 07952 861 868
  • by email on help [Email address: help #AT# lawyersdefencegroup.org.uk - replace #AT# with @ ]
  • if you are a registered user of the web site, by completing and submitting the free, no obligation, call-back form to the right of this text following which someone from the Lawyers Defence Group will get back to you at a time which is convenient to you, or
  • by writing to us at Lawyers Defence Group, Richard Nelson LLP, Priory Court, 1 Derby Road, Nottingham, NG9 2TA