ICAEW applies to regulate further reserved legal services
ICAEW has applied to become an approved regulator and licensing authority for five reserved legal activities, restricted in three of them to the area of taxation
ICAEW has applied to become an approved regulator and licensing authority for five reserved legal activities, restricted in three of them to the area of taxation.
Following a public consultation, the institute has applied to the Legal Services Board to become a regulator licencing authority for notarial services and administrations of oaths, and – restricted to taxation services only for conduct of litigation, rights of audience and reserved instrument activities.
The move follows ICAEW becoming an approved regulator and licensing authority for probate in 2014.
The Legal Services Act 2007 opened up the provision of reserved legal services to competition and practitioners, other than lawyers, can apply to provide reserved legal services.
Duncan Wiggetts, ICAEW executive director of professional standards, said: “As an experienced regulator I am confident ICAEW will ensure its members and firms provide excellent reserved legal services to the public.
“The application follows the successful authorisation and licensing for probate by ICAEW and promotes the Act’s objectives of widening consumer choice in the legal services market and of protecting the consumer through effective regulation.”
Earlier this year, ICAEW fined and severely reprimanded one of its members after it discovered the individual had wrongly undertaken probate activities.
A decision on ICAEW’s application is expected within 12 months. Further information can be found at www.icaew.com/reservedlegalservices
