Legal Services Act 2007 (c. 29)

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 16 The Law Society, solicitors, recognised bodies and foreign lawyers

Part 1 The Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47)

3 After section 1A insert—

“1B Restriction on practice as sole solicitor

(1) Rules under section 31 (rules as to professional practice etc) must provide that a solicitor may not practise as a sole solicitor unless he has in force—

(a) a practising certificate, and

(b) an endorsement of that certificate by the Society authorising him to practise as a sole solicitor (a “sole solicitor endorsement”).

(2) The rules may provide that, for the purposes of the rules and this Act, a solicitor is not to be regarded as practising as a sole solicitor in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the rules.

(3) The rules must prescribe the circumstances in which a solicitor may be regarded by the Society as suitable to be authorised to practise as a sole solicitor.”