In the Autumn of last year, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) published a consultation on the second phase of its 'Looking to the future' Handbook reforms. The consultation, which closed in late December, proposed far-reaching changes, including...:

• allowing self-employed solicitors to provide reserved activities on a freelance basis;
• removing the 'qualified to supervise' rule;
• widening the practising address requirements beyond England and Wales to anywhere in the UK;
• amending approach to the enforcement strategy.

Having gathered the views of members and local law societies, the Law Society's response voiced serious concerns about the impact some of the proposals may have on the profession and on clients. The Society said that they believe the proposed changes could increase uncertainty for the profession and erode vital client protections. They also take the view that flexibility for solicitors should not come at the expense of clients. The Law Society's full response can be viewed here.

It wasn't only the Law Society who voiced concerns about the proposals: The Legal Services Board Consumer Panel said in their response We do not believe that the SRA has struck the right balance between flexibility and the need for consumer protection in a number of these areas.

The response of the Legal Ombudsman is here, and that of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal is here.