What is an SRA intervention?
An intervention is the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) exercising its statutory powers to close down a law firm and take control of its files, client money and practice. It is one of the most serious regulatory steps available and is used where the SRA considers it necessary to protect the public and the interests of clients. When an intervention happens, the firm must stop practising immediately.
Clients are notified that the firm has closed and that they need to find new representation. On the day of an intervention, the SRA’s intervention agents attend the firm’s premises, secure the files and accounts, and begin identifying clients and safeguarding their money and documents. For the client, the first sign is often a letter from the SRA or the intervention agent — sometimes a phone call — explaining that their solicitor can no longer act.
Why does the SRA intervene?
The SRA intervenes for a range of reasons, including suspected dishonesty, failure to comply with regulatory rules, failure to account for client money, insolvency, or a risk to clients or the public. An intervention is a protective measure rather than a finding of guilt against any individual — but its practical effect on clients is immediate and significant.
Common triggers include suspected misuse of client funds, breaches of the SRA Accounts Rules, serious failure of supervision, criminal allegations against principals, or the firm becoming unable to operate. Whatever the reason, the result for clients is the same: the firm can no longer act for them.
What it means for you
As a client of an intervened firm, you lose your legal representative with little or no notice. Your file is taken into the control of the intervention agent. Your case does not vanish, but it stops moving until you instruct a new solicitor.
This is unsettling at best, and at worst it can put deadlines, hearings and transactions at risk. The sooner you take advice, the sooner the position can be stabilised and your matter kept on track.
Your files
How ASA Solicitors can help
- Take over your case and continue it without unnecessary delay.
- Liaise with the SRA’s intervention agent to recover your file and have it transferred.
- Review the position of your matter and advise on next steps and deadlines.
- Represent you going forward across criminal, civil and family proceedings.
What to do next
1. Contact us as soon as possible — the earlier we are instructed, the sooner we can protect deadlines and recover your file.
2. Gather what you have: letters, reference numbers, the intervention notice and any details of the firm.
3. We will contact the intervention agent, request the file and assess where your matter stands.
4. We will advise you on next steps, take over the case where appropriate, and keep it moving.
Why choose ASA Solicitors
Regulated by the SRA and experienced across criminal, civil and family work, we understand both the regulatory process of an intervention and the practical reality of taking over a case mid-stream. We act quickly, communicate clearly and keep your matter moving when it matters most. Because we are a full-service practice, we can pick up a wide range of matters — police station and criminal defence, civil litigation, family and care proceedings, immigration, and document services such as apostille and legalisation — and where your original case needs a specialist we do not cover, we will help you find the right person.
Frequently asked questions
Your case continues but pauses until you instruct a new solicitor. We can take it over, liaise with the court and the other side, and protect any deadlines that are still running.
You request it from the intervention agent named in your intervention letter. We handle this for you and arrange for the file to be transferred to us so your case can continue.
Yes. We take over the conduct of your matter, arrange transfer of the file and any court listing, and notify the court and other parties of the change.
Some deadlines keep running — court time limits, limitation periods and listing dates. It is important to act quickly so that nothing is missed while the file is recovered.
Any solicitor’s lien over your file is assessed as part of the process. We review the position with you and advise on what, if anything, is owed and how it is resolved.