Whistleblowing to the SRA

Last updated: 2 June 2026

Background

This statement sets out our approach to receiving information from the public, from lawyers and from other people working in the legal sector, which relates to misconduct or risk to the public.

We strongly encourage responsible and lawful reports to us of information about misconduct and serious risks at the earliest possible stage. Your prompt report could be vital in protecting both consumers of legal services and members of the wider public from reckless or dishonest behaviour.

If you work in or with the legal sector, your disclosure to us could be protected under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA).

How we will deal with your report

We will deal with your report sensitively. If information is provided to us on a confidential basis, we will take appropriate steps to protect your identity as far as it is possible to do so. You can also choose to submit your report anonymously. Information is, however, often provided to us openly. Please inform us when making your report if you wish your report to remain confidential,otherwise we may assume that we can disclose it as part of our regulatory action in the matter.

In some cases, we will need to discuss with you whether you are prepared to be identified at some stage. For example, depending upon the facts of the case, we may have difficulty in taking enforcement or disciplinary action without formally and openly relying upon your evidence.

Individuals and firms we regulate are required to report concerns regarding serious misconduct to us in any event. However, if you are also regulated by us and are concerned about whether you yourself may be investigated for your own part in any wrongdoing, reporting the issues and co-operating with us could constitute mitigation. This is particularly so where issues are reported to us at an early stage. We would rather solicitors and others working in or with the legal sector provided information late than not at all. Although we cannot guarantee that we will not take any action against you, bringing the information to us is likely to help your position.

You can find more information about reporting information to us:

• For solicitors - reporting and how to report
• For consumers - report a solicitor

Reporting sensitive information to us

We understand that you may not be able to provide us with all the relevant information or documents straight away. Some of the information you want to share with us may be sensitive. Sometimes information given to you in a court or tribunal case cannot be used for anything other than your case – this includes using it in a disclosure. A lot of information in court cases can be disclosed to us but the risks from incorrect disclosure are very serious - it is important to be very careful, and you should take advice where appropriate.

In particular, if your concerns arise from, or are related to, any case involving a child, you should speak to your legal advisers and to us before disclosing any information at all. We would need to work very carefully with you to make sure that any steps we take protect the rights of the child and any other people involved in the case.

If you have any concerns about the nature of the information in question then it is much safer for you to speak to us or a legal adviser before you send it. We cannot give you legal advice, but we can try to help you understand where you stand.

Public Interest Disclosure Act

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 ('PIDA') protects workers from detrimental treatment or victimisation from their employer if they make a protected disclosure about a relevant type of wrongdoing. Many people are understandably concerned about the consequences of speaking out about their employer. PIDA was created specifically to protect workers who make protected disclosures in one of the recognised ways including, in some circumstances, to a 'prescribed person', ie an organisation given specific authority to take, and act upon, protected disclosures.

As of 2 June 2026, we were designated a prescribed person. This means that we are able to take and, where appropriate act upon, protected disclosures in the public interest about wrongdoing by solicitors or law firms.

Workers who make protected disclosures are protected from dismissal and from being subjected to detrimental treatment by their employer. Protected disclosures may be made to us in confidence. Disclosures to us must relate to conduct or wrongdoing encountered by someone who works for a law firm, or has worked alongside them as a contractor or third party.

Workers who make protected disclosures are protected from dismissal and from being subjected to detrimental treatment by their employer. Protected disclosures may be made to us in confidence.

Qualifying criteria for a protected disclosure

For a disclosure to us to qualify as a protected disclosure, you, as the whistleblower, must reasonably believe that you are acting in the public interest, and that the information you disclose relates to something which is either happening now, took place in the past, or is likely to happen in the future.

Your disclosure must relate to one or more of the following types of wrongdoing:

• criminal offence
• breach of a legal obligation
• miscarriage of justice
• danger to the health and safety of any individual
• sexual harassment
• damage to the environment, and/or
• deliberate concealment of information tending to show any of the above matters.

This protection will apply if the qualifying criteria are satisfied and the disclosure is made in accordance with PIDA.

Please be aware that, depending on the nature of the wrongdoing by the law firm or solicitor, it may be that one of the other prescribed persons would be better placed to receive your disclosure. Read the full list of prescribed persons, and the areas in which they will receive disclosures of wrongdoing, Whistleblowing: list of prescribed people and bodies - GOV.UK'

If you require confidential advice on what is protected by PIDA and how best to raise your concern, you may want to contact Protect. Protect is an independent charity and leading authority on public interest whistleblowing.

How to contact us

If you know, or suspect, that another regulated person, or their employee, is involved in dishonest or serious misconduct, contact our Red Alert line. Red Alert is available to all members of the profession and their staff who want to report concerns. For all other matters, you can contact us via our contact centre.