England and Wales · Solicitors discipline
When must the respondent’s SDT appeal response arrive?
The respondent to the SDT appeal. 28 days beginning with receipt of the notice of appeal. Send or deliver the response so the Tribunal receives it, with the required documents and copies. Complete by 4.30 PM Europe/London on the operative Tribunal date, subject to the actual method and any direction. Rule 7(1) imposes a response duty. It uses the respondent’s receipt of the appeal notice, not the appellant’s notification of the original SRA decision. A late response must request an extension and explain lateness under rule 7(5). That process does not remove the ordinary duty.
- Period
- 28 days beginning with receipt of the notice of appeal.
- Trigger
- The date the respondent received the notice of appeal
- Rule
- Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(1)
Current Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(1). Rule 7(1) imposes a response duty. It uses the respondent’s receipt of the appeal notice, not the appellant’s notification of the original SRA decision.
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When must the respondent’s SDT appeal response arrive?
The respondent to the SDT appeal. 28 days beginning with receipt of the notice of appeal. Send or deliver the response so the Tribunal receives it, with the required documents and copies. Complete by 4.30 PM Europe/London on the operative Tribunal date, subject to the actual method and any direction. Rule 7(1) imposes a response duty. It uses the respondent’s receipt of the appeal notice, not the appellant’s notification of the original SRA decision. A late response must request an extension and explain lateness under rule 7(5). That process does not remove the ordinary duty.
Responsible actor. The respondent to the SDT appeal.
The date the respondent received the notice of appeal
A late response must request an extension and explain lateness under rule 7(5). That process does not remove the ordinary duty.
Rule 7(1) imposes a response duty. It uses the respondent’s receipt of the appeal notice, not the appellant’s notification of the original SRA decision.
Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(1)How does this provision count time?
- A period beginning with the event includes that date as day one. Subtract the specified number of calendar days for a hearing-based period.
- Rule 27 requires completion by 4.30PM and permits the next working day for a non-working endpoint. Scotland-only or Northern Ireland-only holiday endpoints require separate geographical review.
A period beginning with the event includes that date as day one. Subtract the specified number of calendar days for a hearing-based period.
Rule 27 requires completion by 4.30 PM and permits the next working day for a non-working endpoint. Scotland-only or Northern Ireland-only holiday endpoints require separate geographical review.
Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(1)What do independently checked examples show?
Fictitious example
Fictitious the respondent to the sdt appeal. The date the respondent received the notice of appeal on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The applicable ordinary procedural conditions are established. No contrary direction applies.
| Step | What is counted | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Example 1. Ordinary established facts | Fictitious the respondent to the sdt appeal. The date the respondent received the notice of appeal on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The applicable ordinary procedural conditions are established. No contrary direction applies. A period beginning with the event includes that date as day one. Subtract the specified number of calendar days for a hearing-based period. Rule 27 requires completion by 4.30 PM and permits the next working day for a non-working endpoint. Scotland-only or Northern Ireland-only holiday endpoints require separate geographical review. | November 9, 2026 by 4.30PM Europe/London. Actual instant 2026-11-09T16:30:00.000Z. |
| Example 2. Closed-day boundary | Fictitious the respondent to the sdt appeal. The date the respondent received the notice of appeal on Tuesday, December 1, 2026. The applicable ordinary procedural conditions are established. No contrary direction applies. A period beginning with the event includes that date as day one. Subtract the specified number of calendar days for a hearing-based period. Rule 27 requires completion by 4.30 PM and permits the next working day for a non-working endpoint. Scotland-only or Northern Ireland-only holiday endpoints require separate geographical review. | December 29, 2026 by 4.30PM Europe/London. Actual instant 2026-12-29T16:30:00.000Z. |
| Example 3. Material procedural branch | Fictitious the respondent to the sdt appeal. The date the respondent received the notice of appeal on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The ordinary requirement that respondent received appeal notice is not established. No contrary direction applies. A period beginning with the event includes that date as day one. Subtract the specified number of calendar days for a hearing-based period. Rule 27 requires completion by 4.30 PM and permits the next working day for a non-working endpoint. Scotland-only or Northern Ireland-only holiday endpoints require separate geographical review. | The actual facts do not establish this selected source procedure. Review the operative branch before computing. |
Fictitious established facts. These examples do not establish eligibility, effective service, relief or a direction.
Try these dates in the calculatorWhich conditions and exceptions apply?
- Applicable procedure
- Rule 7(1) imposes a response duty. It uses the respondent’s receipt of the appeal notice, not the appellant’s notification of the original SRA decision.
- Actual event
- The date the respondent received the notice of appeal. Send or deliver the response so the Tribunal receives it, with the required documents and copies
- Material qualification
- A late response must request an extension and explain lateness under rule 7(5). That process does not remove the ordinary duty.
- Counting and completion
- A period beginning with the event includes that date as day one. Subtract the specified number of calendar days for a hearing-based period. Rule 27 requires completion by 4.30PM and permits the next working day for a non-working endpoint. Scotland-only or Northern Ireland-only holiday endpoints require separate geographical review.
- Rule 7(1) imposes a response duty. It uses the respondent’s receipt of the appeal notice, not the appellant’s notification of the original SRA decision.
- A late response must request an extension and explain lateness under rule 7(5). That process does not remove the ordinary duty. The selected act is send or deliver the response so the Tribunal receives it, with the required documents and copies.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
When must the respondent’s SDT appeal response arrive?
Does the SRA decision date start the response clock?
No. Rule 7(1) starts with the respondent’s receipt of the notice of appeal.
Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(1)Is responding optional?
Rule 7(1) says the respondent must send or deliver a response. The separate appellant’s reply is optional.
Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(1)Does receipt count as day one?
Yes. The 28-day period begins with the date of receipt.
Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(1)What must a late response include?
Rule 7(5) requires a request for an extension of time and reasons why the response was not sent or delivered in time.
Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(5)What documents must accompany the response?
Rule 7(4) covers relevant decision records and reasons not supplied by the appellant, plus relied-upon documents relevant to the appeal.
Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(4)Must the appellant receive the response too?
Yes. The respondent must send or deliver a copy and accompanying documents to the appellant at the same time under rule 7(7).
Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(7)Official sources and review
Provisions used (6)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(1) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| 2011 Appeals Rules, r.27 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(1); r.27 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(5) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(4) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011, r.7(7) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |