Consultations

Digital ID consultation

The government launched a consultation in March seeking views on a proposed national digital ID (identify document) system for British and Irish citizens and foreign nationals with permission to be in the UK.

The consultation closed on 5 May 2026, and our response has been submitted. Thank you to everyone who contributed their views.

SRA consults on proposals to strengthen continuing competence requirements

The SRA has announced that it is consulting on potential new rules which will require all solicitors to keep a record of how they are reviewing and addressing their learning and development needs.

The proposals, developed with input from key stakeholders, are designed to give greater assurance that all practising solicitors are taking the necessary steps to maintain their individual competence, across both their ethical and professional obligations.

They also emphasise the importance of pursuing ongoing professional development which is tailored to an individual's role and which takes account of changes in the legal services sector. The proposals would:

• Require all solicitors to record their learning and development needs and how they identified and addressed these needs, and require solicitors to sign a declaration to this effect
• Require all solicitors to participate annually in discussions where they will work through ethical dilemmas and scenarios with other solicitors
• Enable the SRA to require some or all solicitors to complete specific learning and development in the future where concerns over competence emerged

The consultation opened on 22 April 2026 and will run for 12 weeks, closing on 15 July 2026. During this period, the SRA will be engaging with the profession and other stakeholders to explain their proposals and invite feedback. This will include a live webinar on 13 May.

For full details and to download the consultation papers please click here: Strengthening our continuing competence approach

If you are regulated by the SRA, or work for an SRA regulated firm, we encourage you to respond direct to the consultation. In addition, the board have also asked me to also submit a written response to the consultation on behalf of Lifetime Lawyers representing the views of our members and I’d be grateful for your input into this.

If you could let me have your thoughts direct by email to [email protected] by no later than close of business on Friday 26 June this would be appreciated.