SRA Handbook

Responsibilities of training principals

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Version 8 of the Handbook was published on 01/10/2013. For more information, please click 'History' Above

Regulation 15: Responsibilities of training principals

15.1

Regulation 15 applies to training principals, and "you" should be construed accordingly.

15.2

If you are a training principal you must:

(a)

fully understand the requirements of these regulations, and undertake to us your training establishment's compliance with these regulations;

(b)

liaise with us regarding your organisation's, body's, firm's, company's or your trainees;

(c)

advise us of any changes relevant to training, including, if you are ceasing to be the training principal, the name of your successor;

(d)

ensure that anyone involved in the supervision of trainees has adequate legal knowledge and supervisory experience or training;

(e)

ensure that trainees maintain an adequate training contract record;

(f)

ensure that trainees receive regular feedback, informal performance reviews and formal appraisals;

(g)

ensure that there are suitable pastoral arrangements for trainees; and

(h)

at the end of the period of the training contract, provide us with a certificate of training, which confirms that:

(i)

there are no circumstances of which you are aware that may affect the trainee's character and suitability to become a solicitor; and

(ii)

you are satisfied that the trainee has received training and developed the required skills set out in regulation 10 and in the Practice Skills Standards.

15.3

If you are a training principal, you may delegate the responsibilities in regulation 15.2(a)-(h) to others, on condition that you inform the trainee of the delegation arrangements.

Guidance note:

(i)

You should be aware that all trainees are required to obtain a satisfactory criminal record check (standard disclosure) from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) in accordance with regulation 35 of the SRA Training Regulations Part 1 - Qualification Regulations.

(ii)

A CRB standard disclosure includes details of any current and spent convictions, police cautions, reprimands and final warnings held on the Police National Computer. We also make use of overseas criminal records information services whenever appropriate. The trainee - not the training principal - is responsible for applying for the required CRB standard disclosure. We send trainees CRB check forms and guidance approximately 12 weeks before the scheduled end of their training contracts.

(iii)

Participation in industrial action does not, of itself, bring into question the suitability of the trainee to become a solicitor.