On 2 June 2026, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced a significant development for whistleblowing in the legal sector: it has been formally designated as a “prescribed person” under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA).
This change marks an important milestone in strengthening protections for individuals reporting wrongdoing within law firms and across the legal services sector. Read the full statement here.
What the New Status Means
Being designated as a prescribed person means that the SRA is now an authorised body to receive protected disclosures under PIDA.
This provides legal protection to individuals who report concerns to the regulator, provided they reasonably believe they are acting in the public interest.
Crucially, this protection applies to a wide group of people connected to SRA-regulated firms, including:
- Solicitors
- Paralegals
- Clerks
- Trainees
- Agency workers
By extending coverage beyond regulated professionals, the change recognises that concerns about misconduct can arise from across the workforce—not just from those formally regulated.
Encouraging People to Speak Up
While solicitors already have an obligation to report misconduct, the SRA states that this additional protection is intended to encourage non-regulated staff to come forward with concerns.
Aileen Armstrong, the SRA’s Executive Director for Strategy and Innovation, emphasised that serious wrongdoing often only comes to light when individuals feel able to speak up. She highlighted that fear of damaging one’s career can prevent people from reporting issues, and described the new designation as a step towards creating a safer environment for raising concerns.
Enhanced Protection and Accountability
The whistleblowing charity Protect welcomed the move, noting that the designation will provide reassurance to those reporting concerns that they will benefit from enhanced protections.
Additionally, prescribed person status introduces annual reporting obligations, which are expected to increase transparency and accountability in how whistleblowing disclosures are handled.
Scope of Protected Disclosures
The protection under PIDA applies to disclosures relating to:
- Issues happening now
- Matters that occurred in the past
- Concerns about potential future wrongdoing
However, there are limits. The SRA can only accept protected disclosures that relate to legal wrongdoing committed by individuals or firms it regulates.
If concerns relate to other sectors or organisations, they must be reported to the appropriate regulator.
How Concerns Can Be Raised
Individuals who wish to report potential misconduct can do so directly to the SRA through its Red Alert reporting line.
This provides a clear and formally recognised route for raising concerns while benefiting from legal protection.
A Step Towards Greater Confidence in the Sector
The SRA’s designation as a prescribed person represents a targeted effort to strengthen the culture of accountability in legal services. By offering wider protection to those who raise concerns, the regulator aims to ensure that individuals across law firms feel safer speaking up.
Ultimately, this development reinforces the principle that identifying and addressing wrongdoing is essential to protecting the public and maintaining trust in the legal profession.