Six law firms have been selected to take part in the first wave of the SRA’s?relationship management pilot, to test a new model of supervision in preparation for outcomes-focused regulation.

The firms range from a global firm to a sole practitioner, so that the approach can be tested with firms of different sizes and business models.

Relationship Manager Suchitra Hammond said:

“We are delighted with the number and range of responses we have received so far from firms wanting to take part.

“We have now selected six firms to form the first wave of the pilot. During October and November we will select two further waves of firms to join the pilot.”

The firms selected include

• global firm,
• two national firms with different business models,
• a medium-sized commercial firm,
• a small mixed commercial/private client practice, and
• a sole practitioner.

Over the coming months, the SRA’s Relationship Management Team will be working with the firms to establish how the new model of supervision will work in practice, ready for the introduction of outcomes-focused regulation in October 2011.