The COLP
The Compliance Officer for Legal Practice is accountable for the firm's compliance with its SRA obligations generally — conduct, policies, and regulatory requirements. The COLP evidences policy reviews, regulatory updates, approvals, attestations, and decisions across the firm.
The COFA
The Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration is accountable for compliance with the accounts rules and finance-related obligations. The COFA evidences finance compliance controls, the policies behind them, approvals, and staff acknowledgements.
Where they overlap
Both roles depend on current, approved policies; clear approval trails; staff acknowledgement; and exportable evidence. When these live in different systems, inconsistency creeps in — exactly what SRA reviews flag. A shared record with role-appropriate views keeps both officers aligned.
One trail, two roles
- Shared, version-controlled policies
- A single approval and audit trail
- Attestations visible to both officers
- Role-specific reporting for COLP and COFA
Reglo helps firms keep this evidence organised and audit-ready — humans approve every change. AI drafts and organises; your compliance team decides.
This guide is general information for compliance teams, not legal or regulatory advice. Always refer to the SRA's current guidance and take your own professional advice where needed.