Solicitors Regulation AuthoritySRA On Hunt For New Enforcement Head Amid Snowballing Harassment Complaints
A recent report showed that last year the SRA received a record number of harassment complaints.
November 14, 2019 at 05:14 AM
2 minute read
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is looking for a new head of legal and enforcement to lead on the body's regulatory, disciplinary and litigation casework.
The new hire can expect to join a regulator that is currently dealing with a proliferation of harassment complaints, with a recent report showing that the number of such complaints rose by 483% last year. The SRA cited the impact of the #MeToo movement as the main driver for greater reporting.
The new appointment would be the SRA's fourth legal and enforcement head since the role was created in 2007, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
According to a job advertisement on the SRA's website, the post involves leading the SRA's Birmingham-based legal and enforcement team, which deals with contentious matters before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) and the High Court.
The job-holder will lead a team of up to 15 on investigations, and will have personal responsibility for handling serious and complex cases including those involving sensitive, high-profile or novel issues.
According to data released in the SRA's annual report in July, 91% of its 4,711 completed investigations led to no action being taken in 2018-19.
This year has seen the SRA prosecute a number of high-profile lawyers, including most recently Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Ryan Beckwith receiving a £35,000 fine from the SDT for sexual misconduct.
Next month will see Baker McKenzie's former London head Gary Senior appear before the SDT regarding allegations of historic sexual misconduct, following a referral by the SRA in July.
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