Solicitors Act 1974

22 Unqualified person not to prepare certain instruments

(1) Subject to subsection (2), any unqualified person who directly or indirectly—

(a) draws or prepares any instrument of transfer or charge for the purposes of the [1925 c. 21.] Land Registration Act 1925, or makes any application or lodges any document for registration under that Act at the registry, or

(b) draws or prepares any other instrument relating to real or personal estate, or any legal proceeding,

shall, unless he proves that the act was not done for or in expectation of any fee, gain or reward, be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £50.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to—

(a) a barrister or duly certificated notary public;

(b) any public officer drawing or preparing instruments or applications in the course of his duty;

(c) any person employed merely to engross any instrument, application or proceeding;

and paragraph (b) of that subsection does not apply to a duly certificated solicitor in Scotland.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), "instrument" does not include—

(a) a will or other testamentary instrument;

(b) an agreement not under seal;

(c) a letter or power of attorney; or

(d) a transfer of stock containing no trust or limitation thereof.