SRA imposes strict public interest conditions on solicitor Terence Mills’ practising certificate
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has imposed strict conditions on the practising certificate of solicitor Terence Mills for the 2024/2025 practice year, following a decision reached on 2 September 2025 and published on 30 October 2025.
According to the official notice, the decision was made directly by the regulator and not by a tribunal. It is categorised as a control of practice outcome, with the SRA confirming that the result of its assessment was the imposition of specific conditions on Mr Mills’ ability to practise.
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The regulator stated:
“This outcome was reached by SRA decision.”
Under the published determination, Mr Mills is permitted to continue practising as a solicitor but under significant restrictions. The SRA set out the full list of conditions applying to his 2024/2025 practising certificate as follows:
- Mr Mills is not a manager or owner of any authorised body.
- Mr Mills may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or a compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body.
- Mr Mills may not hold or receive client money, act as a signatory to any client or office account, or have the power to authorise transfers from any client and/or office account.
- Mr Mills may not practise on his own account under regulation 10.2(a) or 10.2(b) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.
The SRA further clarified that “in these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.”
No firm or organisation details were listed in connection with the matter. The regulator’s publication did not specify the circumstances leading to the decision but confirmed that it was reached “in the public interest” and was considered “reasonable and proportionate.”
Explaining the legal basis for the restrictions, the SRA said:
“The above conditions are necessary in the public interest. They are reasonable and proportionate having regard to the purposes set out in regulation 7 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations, and the regulatory objectives and principles governing regulatory activities as contained in section 28 of the Legal Services Act 2007.”
The decision means that while Mr Mills remains authorised to practise as a solicitor, he may only do so under the specified limitations. These include not managing a law firm, not handling client money, and not acting in designated compliance roles within any authorised body.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority routinely imposes practising certificate conditions when it considers them necessary to maintain professional standards or safeguard the public. Such conditions are not disciplinary findings but regulatory measures designed to ensure compliance with the SRA’s statutory duties under the Legal Services Act 2007.
The notice relating to Mr Mills’ practising certificate forms part of the SRA’s ongoing transparency framework, which publicly records decisions affecting practising solicitors in England and Wales.
No further comment or accompanying material was published by the SRA in relation to this decision.