SRA chair apologises for regulatory failings
The chair of Britain’s Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), has announced she will leave her position at the end of 2026, concluding an eight-year tenure.
The announcement comes alongside a formal apology for high-profile regulatory mistakes that have impacted both consumers and the legal profession in recent years.
The SRA has faced intense scrutiny over its supervision of the legal market, specifically regarding the collapse of Axiom Ince and SSB Law.
Independent reports into these cases identified significant oversight failures, leading to calls from across the sector for leadership accountability.
Additionally, Britain’s regulator has dealt with expensive costs orders resulting from failed prosecutions and a recent, controversial decision to significantly increase practitioner fees to bolster the compensation fund.
'Struggled'
In a statement, Bradley acknowledged that the SRA had struggled to keep pace with a rapidly evolving legal landscape. "Sometimes, we have not kept pace with the market and mistakes have been made," she said (27 May).
"I am sorry these issues have had such an impact on consumers and the profession. Which is why I have focused on learning and creating the momentum we need to deliver the necessary change."
Bradley originally intended to step down earlier in 2024 but extended her term by two years to provide "leadership continuity" following the Axiom Ince affair and the retirement of former chief executive Paul Philip.
During her leadership, the SRA transitioned from a rules-based to a principles-based regulatory model, implemented the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), and launched an innovation hub to integrate technology into legal services.
The outgoing chair noted that the appointment of Sarah Rapson as the new chief executive was a vital step in stabilising the organisation.
Bradley stated that the SRA now has a better understanding of the modernizing reforms required to function as a "proportionate and trusted regulator."
The incoming chair is scheduled to take office on January 1, 2027.