Checking whether an adviser is regulated

Regulatory status should be checked through the relevant official register. For solicitors and firms regulated by the SRA in England and Wales, the Solicitors Register provides records of status and related information. ^[1]

Match the person, firm and contact details Search the full name and regulatory number, then compare the listed organisation with the engagement documents. Check both the individual and the business where appropriate. A genuine person's name can be copied by an unrelated fraudster.

If the adviser belongs to another regulated profession or jurisdiction, use that body's register. Do not infer that an absence from the SRA register automatically means the person has no legitimate role; equally, do not assume they are SRA-regulated.

Check the work and protection actually offered Ask who will provide the service, what authorisation is relevant and which complaint and insurance arrangements apply. A professional qualification does not establish competence in every specialist area.

Use independent identity checks before transferring money. Compare the verified provider with the engagement letter, especially where a trading brand, referral business and contracting firm have different names. Resolve mismatches before treating the relationship as established.

Ask which person and business will provide the service Begin with the provider's full legal name, the individual's name and the regulatory body they say applies. A trading brand, referral platform and contracting practice may be different organisations. Ask which one will undertake the work and issue the engagement terms. Keep that answer with the quotation. Without this distinction, a client can check the reputation of a familiar brand while entering an agreement with another entity whose status, responsibilities and complaints arrangements have not actually been examined.

Request a regulatory number where one is claimed and compare it with the relevant official record. Do not rely on a logo, badge or registration number printed on an email as independent verification. Those details can be copied. The SRA register allows checks of the people and firms it regulates, including information relevant to current practice. ^[1] For another profession or jurisdiction, identify the appropriate official body rather than treating the SRA as a universal register of everyone entitled to provide any form of legal assistance.

Match a genuine record with the communication received A matching name is only the start of the check. Compare the firm, office and contact information with the proposed engagement and the communication asking you to act. Where details differ, establish the reason using an independently verified contact route. A genuine professional may have changed firms, but a fraudster may also impersonate them. Avoid replying to a suspicious message as your only method of verification; that simply returns the question to the person whose identity is uncertain.

Record the date and result of the check in a short note. If the search returns no match, check spelling and the claimed regulator, then seek clarification. The SRA warns that an unsuccessful search should not be treated as confirmation of its regulation. ^[1] Do not jump to the opposite conclusion that every absent name is fraudulent, either. The next step is to resolve the specific claim being made and identify the status of the actual service provider before sending sensitive documents or money.

Ask what the status means for the proposed work Regulation, authorisation and specialist experience should be discussed in relation to the task you need. Ask who will undertake the substantive work, who supervises it where relevant and whether another professional will be involved. A person may have a recognised qualification while having little experience of the issue presented. Request an explanation of relevant practice experience without seeking confidential details about other clients. The useful question is how the team is equipped to handle this matter, including any limits they identify in their proposed scope.

Ask which insurance and complaints arrangements apply to the service as offered. Do not assume that protection associated with a profession automatically covers every business using a qualified person's name. If the provider operates through more than one entity, ask which entity's terms govern the instruction and where payments should be made. The answer should be understandable in the engagement documents. An unclear explanation of who contracts, who performs and who is accountable is a reason to resolve the structure before authorising substantial work.

Repeat the relevant check when the relationship changes A new adviser, a transfer of the matter or a change in the contracting firm may require updated verification. Keep the original engagement and any replacement terms so the transition can be followed. Confirm a change of payment destination independently before transferring funds, particularly if the request arrives unexpectedly or under time pressure. The existence of an earlier genuine relationship does not authenticate every later email claiming to come from the same organisation or prove that an altered account instruction is legitimate.

Treat regulatory verification as one part of selecting a provider, alongside subject fit, scope, communication and cost. It is not a promise of a successful outcome or a substitute for reading the proposed terms. A sound initial record should identify the actual business, the professional involved, the status checked and any unresolved limitation relevant to the work. That gives the client a reliable basis for proceeding and a clear reference if later correspondence introduces a different name, role or explanation of who is responsible for the service.