The Solicitors Regulation Authority has advised that only a limited amount of information is publicly available on solicitors whom it has disciplined. However, an individual may contact the SRA directly to find out about an individual solicitor or firm of solicitors.
In 2006 there were 743 matters involving 1094 individuals that had a disciplinary decision recorded against the solicitor (as listed). There were also 495 matters involving 529 individuals that were referred to other bodies, including the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
So far in 2007 there have been 396 matters involving 596 individuals with a decision recorded, and there have been 252 referrals of matters involving 334 individuals.
In extracting these figures the Solicitors Regulation Authority have defined “disciplined” as having one of the following decisions:
Disapproval
Finding and Warning
Intervention (this information is available to the public)
Practising Certificate—suspended under Section 13B of the Solicitors Act 1974 (this information is available to the public)
Reprimand
Reprimand severely
Vest Discretion (this information relates to conditions imposed on practising certificates and is available to the public)
The SRA defines a “matter” as a complaint or allegation. A single matter could be about a firm and the disciplinary decision made against some or all of the partners; therefore a single matter can result in multiple decisions.