Faculty researcher teams up with Law Society on new ethical framework for private practice solicitors
The online consultation sessions will run throughout late July, split by firm size to capture distinct working dynamics
A University of Leeds researcher has launched a partnership with The Law Society of England and Wales to develop a new ethical practice framework specifically for solicitors working in private practice.
Dr Jim Baxter, Professional Ethics Consultancy Team Leader at IDEA: The Ethics Centre, will lead a series of online roundtable discussions this July to gather vital insights from the legal profession. The project builds on the success of a previous joint initiative for in-house lawyers and comes amid renewed scrutiny of legal ethics following high-profile industry events like the Post Office scandal.
The new framework aims to help private practice solicitors navigate complex scenarios where ethical considerations are not straightforward, such as managing conflicts of interest, handling client pressure, and meeting disclosure obligations. Designed to complement existing guidance from the Legal Services Board and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the final toolkit will offer a package of expert guidance, advice, and support to minimise regulatory risk without duplicating established firm processes.
Dr Jim Baxter said: "Following our successful collaboration on the in-house ethics framework, I am pleased to extend this work to private practice. Legal professionals regularly encounter difficult scenarios where client pressure or structural demands can challenge independent decision-making. These upcoming roundtables will allow us to hear directly from practitioners across firms of all sizes, ensuring the final framework provides highly relevant, practical support for navigating these daily professional pressures."
To ensure the framework reflects the diversity of specialisms across the legal sector, the development team is seeking input from solicitors working in small, medium, and large firms. The findings from the upcoming July workshops will be supported by a wider survey of Law Society members to ensure the final tools are grounded in the real-world experiences of the profession.
The online consultation sessions will run throughout late July, split by firm size to capture distinct working dynamics:
- Small firms: Thursday 23 July, 10.30am–12pm
- Medium-sized firms: Wednesday 29 July, 10.30am–12pm
- Large firms: Thursday 30 July, 10.30am–12pm
Solicitors interested in participating in the roundtables can register their interest through the Law Society’s 'Get Involved' platform or by contacting James Woolf directly.
