What happens if you become the subject of an investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Legal Complaints Service? Are you prepared? Can you cope with the stress, intrusion, costs and loss of credibility that may occur during regulatory or disciplinary investigations and proceedings?

The impact of regulatory and disciplinary investigation is one of the most significant challenges facing solicitors, both today and in the future. Every solicitors' practice in the UK is at risk - regardless of size, experience or reputation. Even if a solicitor is found to be innocent, investigations can be costly, intrusive and stressful.

Many solicitors suffer from poor representation, or no representation. Due to time constraints and client pressures, solicitors often fail to appreciate fully the concerns of the regulator, and fail to do themselves justice.

Solicitors are not at present covered or protected sufficiently. The current Solicitors Assistance Scheme (SAS) offers a free first interview, but further support must be paid for at commercial rates. Many solicitors are denied the help they desperately need.

The Solicitors Defence Scheme (SDS) provided to you exclusively by Giles (Alton) Insurance Brokers has been designed to ensure solicitors do receive the advice and support needed during investigations and disciplinary action. The scheme ensures solicitors can meet the demands of the regulator and that their interests are fully protected.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority can intervene into a solicitor’s practice (that is close it down) following an investigation without telling the solicitor the result of that investigation or giving him or her the right to comment on the investigator's conclusions

The Legal Complaints Service and Solicitors Regulation Authority receive over 17,000 complaints a year. There are approximately 10,000 firms in the UK. This means a practice may face, on average, two complaints each year.

Both the SRA and LCS typically require a detailed explanation from solicitors in answer to any complaint within 14 days. There are penalties for failure to comply and the Society is strongly resistant to allowing extensions of time.