The Legal Services Act 2007 (Licensing Authority) Order 2014

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order designates the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (“the Institute”) as a licensing authority under Part 5 (alternative business structures) of the Legal Services Act 2007 (c. 29) (“the Act”) in relation to probate activities. Part 5 of the Act makes provision about licensing authorities and their functions. The Institute is already an approved regulator in relation to probate activities by virtue of the Legal Services Act 2007 (Approved Regulator) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1872). Designation will allow the Institute to license alternative business structures, such as firms which are wholly or partly owned or controlled by non-lawyers to provide legal services, or a mixture of legal and other services, relating to probate activities, to the public.

An Impact Assessment has not been prepared for this Order. A full impact assessment of the effect of the policy implemented by this instrument on the costs of business and the voluntary sector was produced with the Government’s consultation on the Legal Services Bill and is available at http://www.justice.gov.uk or from the Head of Legal Services Policy, Law and Access to Justice Group, Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ.