The SRA says it supports vulnerable solicitors amid claims of a ban linked to mental health
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has responded to claims circulating online that it barred a solicitor from practising because of a previous suicide attempt, insisting it supports solicitors experiencing mental health difficulties.
The issue emerged following a post on Reddit shortly before Christmas, which attracted significant attention across social media platforms. In the anonymous post, the author said they had been prevented from practising by the SRA due to their medical history, specifically a past attempt to take their own life.
According to the post, the solicitor had been involved in an employment dispute that led to an investigation by the regulator. The investigation was later closed with no further action. However, the author claimed that the SRA subsequently imposed practising conditions that stopped them from working after reviewing their medical records.
The post alleged that the regulator had taken the view that suicide risk could indicate a lack of capacity to understand professional duties or comply with regulatory rules.
The Gazette understands that the SRA does not operate a policy of automatically imposing restrictions on solicitors solely on the basis of mental health issues. Any decision to impose practising conditions would require an identifiable risk to the public. The regulator also routinely signposts solicitors under investigation to sources of support, including mental health charity Lawcare.
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The SRA declined to coment on the specific case referenced in the online post but issued a statement addressing the broader issue. A spokesperson said that ensuring solicitors feel supported during regulatory processes is vitally important to the authority.
The spokesperson added that the SRA recognises regulatory investigations can be particularly challenging for individuals who are already vulnerable or experiencing physical or mental health difficulties. They said that when someone is struggling, the regulator treats the situation with care and urgency.
The claims have prompted wider discussion within the legal profession about mental health and regulation. Solicitor Matthew Letts, who drew attention to the issue on LinkedIn, suggested the possibility of a crowdfunding campaign to challenge the position reportedly taken in the High Court.
In a post on the platform, Letts said he wanted to help the solicitor involved take action to remove the restrictions and potentially secure findings against the SRA to prevent similar situations arising in the future.
He described the regulator’s reported stance as extremely troubling and said it risked exacerbating the mental health crisis within the profession by further stigmatising suicide and effectively recriminalising it through regulatory action.
The case has added to the ongoing debate about how regulators balance public protection with appropriate support for legal professionals experiencing mental health difficulties.