The Board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority has approved a number of changes to further cut red tape and provide new ways of becoming a solicitor.

The changes focus on eight separate areas of the Handbook and will, the SRA state, reduce duplication in administration for many, and improve regulation.

The changes to be made include:

• simplifying compliance officer approval for small firms;
• including an apprenticeship qualification under the Training Regulations;
• operational changes and improvements for ABS authorisation; and
• simplifying candidate declaration and notification processes.

Paul Philip, SRA Chief Executive, said:

“Taken together these eight changes are a significant reduction in red tape and bureaucracy, marking a step forward in freeing up firms and individuals to do business. They support small firms which are often stretched for time and resource and they provide greater opportunity for a wider range of talented people than ever before to enter the profession.”

The changes agreed by the Board were part of a formal consultation between 16 April and 11 June this year and the consultation leading to this can be found at www.sra.org.uk/sra/consultations/regulatory-reform-programme.page.