The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has visited Leeds as part of a national campaign to gauge what the public feel should happen when solicitors fall short of their expected standards.
The campaign, called A Question of Trust, saw members of the public participate in an open voting session held by the SRA at The Leeds Club on 18 November.
Attendees used interactive voting equipment to give their feedback on the issues such as trust; professional standards and applying good regulation, such as being convicted of drink driving; failing to keep client information confidential; and using a client’s money without authority or amending a will.
Paul Philip, the SRA chief executive, said: “We regulate in the public interest, so it’s important that we ask the public what really matters to them when using a solicitor and what should happen when things go wrong. We want people to have their say on issues that we tackle every day.”
The Leeds event is one of around 30 being held across England and Wales as part of the campaign, which runs until the end of January 2016.
In July, the SRA surveyed 10,000 solicitors as part of A Question of Trust and an online survey is now open to the public and legal professionals on the SRA’s website. All feedback gathered during the campaign will help to support future SRA decision making.
