regulatory notice

Sentient Group Limited is not a business regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (“SRA) however some of our advisors are employed solicitors so they are individually regulated by the SRA. This means that where you take legal advice directly from one of our solicitors, it may attract legal advice privilege, despite the SRA regulation not extending to Sentient Group Limited as a business. The regulation by the SRA only applies to the employed solicitors on a personal basis and does not extend to the work carried out by other members of the team or other services.

Unlike a regulated practice, a business practising on an unregulated basis are not answerable to the SRA and are not required to hold high amounts of professional indemnity insurance through approved insurers. Sentient do however hold professional indemnity insurance with a limit of indemnity of £5,000,000 for any one claim (cost inclusive).
If you feel you have not received the level of service from one of our solicitors then we would ask that you raise that with us directly (in line with our complaints procedure) as you would for any member of our team. However, if you feel the service you have received from a solicitor on our team is below the professional standards you would expect, then you are entitled to contact the SRA to raise your concerns with them. Details of how to do this is available at: SRA | Reporting an individual or firm | Solicitors Regulation Authority

 

Alternatively, if you remain dissatisfied with the work undertaken on your behalf by one of our solicitors (after following the above complaints procedure), you may have the right to refer your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman. You may refer your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman, free of charge, but you must do so within six months of the date of our final response. If you do not refer your complaint in time, the Legal Ombudsman will not have our permission to consider your complaint, and so will only be able to do so in very limited circumstances. For more information please see: www.legalombudsman.org.uk.

 
The Solicitors Compensation Scheme is not available to claims brought against our solicitors however their work is covered under our professional indemnity insurance. The Solicitors Compensation Scheme fund provides compensation to people who are owed money by a regulated law firm only. The fund’s purpose is to provide a safety net for people who have suffered loss due to a solicitor’s personal dishonesty, and where the professional indemnity insurance (PII) is unable to cover such loss.