Explanatory Notes

Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025

2025 asp 8

27 June 2025

Background

Part 1 – Regulatory Framework

Chapter 1 – Objectives, principles and key expressions
Professional principles
Section 4 – Professional principles

27.This section sets out high-level principles for any person who is providing legal services.

28.The practice rules of authorised legal businesses (see Part 2) must include a rule requiring these entities to adhere to them and section 50 of the 2010 Act requires licensed providers to do so. In addition, the Law Society and the Faculty, as the main regulators of individual legal services providers, will need to promote and maintain adherence by those they regulate with these principles as part of their own regulatory schemes (as this forms part of the regulatory objectives). In each case, non-compliance could have consequences for the legal services provider’s continued authorisation to provide legal services.