Legal services have never mattered more. In an increasingly uncertain world, people need all the help they can get and that means the way the legal sector works is changing. If you want to help to shape the future and make a real difference for people and businesses in England and Wales, becoming a Board member of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is the opportunity you have been looking for.

The SRA regulates the solicitor profession in England and Wales in the public interest, balancing public protection with regulatory arrangements that support an increasingly open, diverse and competitive legal sector. With more than 190,000 solicitors and some 10,200 law firms to oversee, high professional standards are the priority. Looking ahead to its new Corporate Strategy the SRA will be building on its major reform programme, transforming the way solicitors qualify ensuring it and the sector can respond effectively to change and working to maximise the benefits innovation and technology can bring for consumers and law firms.

The SRA are looking to appoint four new Board members, two coming from a lay and two from non-lay (solicitor) backgrounds, to join the SRA Board and contribute to setting its strategic direction. All new Board directors should have previous experience of working with a Board, a track record of achievement in complex organisations, and the ability to think strategically. You will also bring excellent communication skills and judgement, and a demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. We are particularly interested in individuals with at least one of the following:

• Experience using professional services, including legal, from the perspective of a small business (lay only);
• Experience offering consumer advice, or understanding of competition within markets (lay only);
• Experience providing regulated legal services through an alternative business structure (ABS) (solicitor / non-lay); or,
• Experience of practice in a high-street solicitor’s firm (solicitor / non-lay); or
• A relevant academic field (lay or non-lay).

The SRA is committed to putting diversity at the heart of everything they do. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals coming from the widest possible range of backgrounds to these roles.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Solicitors Regulation Authority on these appointments. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference QAFAX. Alternatively email belinda.beck@saxbam.com or telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on 22 September 2020.