Legal Services 1 Flashcards
Reserved legal activities
S12 Legal Services Act 2007 -
exercise of right of audience -
call and examine witness
Conduct of litigation -
Reserved instrument activities -
formal legal document, dealing with transfer of land. Wills and LPA excluded
Probate activities -
Notarial activities -
certifying
Administration of oaths -
affidavits.
Authorisation
Law Society regulator
SRA carries out regulatory function.
Exempt-
McKenzie friend - court grants person right of audience in particular case.
Criminal to carry out if not authorised or exempt (up to 2 years).
Charities and indépendant trade unions also exempt.
Legal Services Board (LSB)
Approves regulators.
Duties -
public interest
constitutional principles
access to justice
consumers
promoting cmopettion
strong, diverse profession
public understanding of legal rights and duties.
promoting and maintaining adherence to professional principles
promoting detection of economic crime.
May suggestions, penalise or withdraw approval
Regulated providers
Barristers - advocates in criminal and civil courts.
Solicitors
Chartered legal executives -
Licensed conveyancers -
property
Patent attorneys -
patents and IP.
Trade mark attorneys -
Costs lawyers -
legal fees and costs
Notaries
Chartered accountants - probate activities by Institute of Chartered Accountants
Regulators overlap - may overlap.
Outside Act
Still subject to specific regulation
Claims management companies
Immigration Advisers
Unregulated providers
Will writing, family and will advice.
SRA
Governed by board of nine members
Five lay and four solicitors.
Principles -
1 - upholds constitutional principle of rule of law and administration of justice
2 - upholds public trust and confidence
3- independence
4- honesty
5- integrity
6- equality, diversity
7 - best interest of client.
Under oversight of LSB
Risk-based regulation
Helps to decide on limitations needed to be put in place.
Authorises firms as well as individuals.
Eligible businesses
Recognised sole practice -
sole solicitor.
Recognised body -
all managers and interest holders are legally qualified.
75% of body managers qualified. Voting rights held by at least 75%.
Managers not qualified still subject to SRA approval.
Partnerships -
LLP -
Companies -
Licensed bodies -
(ABS alternative business structures)
Not wholly in control by those who are qualified.
At least one manager authorised by SRA or another approved regulator.
Will be licensed body if a non-authorised person is;
Manager
Interest holder (shares)
Or
another body is a manager or interest holder
non-authorised persons entitled to exercise of control at least 10% of voting rights.
Effects of authorisation
Once authorised can cary out reserved legal activities *except notarial.
As well as immigration work.
Business limite dot -
profession services of sort provided bt individuals practising as solicitor and lawyers of other jurisdictions
Must have
COLP (compliance officer for legal practice) and COFA (compliance officer for finance and administration)
Once authorised licensed body carry out same range as recognised body.
Licensed body have
-HOFA (Head of finance and Admin)
-HOLP - (head of legal practice)
Authorisation process
Apply -
SRA check basics and carry out investigation.
Risk-based approach.
To;
remind confident in service
promote public confidence
competence, character and willingness to achieve right outcome
Individuals
- admitted as solicitor
-on the roll
-has in force a certificate issued by society authorising to practice (practising certificate)
Admission -
Placed on roll.
Apply to COLP, new and former solicitors.
Part 1 - overriding need for public protection
Part 2 -
criminal conduct
other conduct
Part 3-
aggravating and mitigating factors
Most serious.- criminal offence, custodial or suspended involving dishonesty, perjury, fraud, bribery, violence or sexual nature, or obstructing course of justice.
Serious - caution been accepted or criminal offence not in above.
Failure to disclose taken into account.
Practising certificate
Can apply if name on roll.
English and Welsh
Not suspended.
Carry out all reserved activities (except notarising).
Higher right of auidence (Crown, High, CA and SC).
Unless Higher Courts Qualification (criminal or civil).
Pro bono -
fine if through authorised firm.
If not rely on exemption.
Renew certificate each year.
fee payable
Must inform promptly of material changes.
If in public interest may refuse or impose conditions.
May impose if;
-unsuitable in certain activities
-put clients at risk (or likely)
-will not comply with monitoring or compliance
-take steps to reach regulatory objectives.
Can appeal to SRA or High Court.
Working outside authorised firms
Freelance solicitors -
Not required to be authorise Dif;
not carrying out reserved legal activities
provided through authorised body
minimum of three years since admission, self-employed practicese on own and take out indemnity insurance
Must still notify SRA intent to practice.
In-house
Can supply to employer but not public
Non-commercial -
not for profit bodies, charities etc. -
Allowed on behalf to provide reserved legal activities to public.
Indemnity insurance that is adequate and appropriate.
Other -
unregulated but cannot carry out reserved legal activities.
Professional indemnity insurance
Breach of professional duty.
legal costs of defending, and if unsuccessful client costs.
To ensure public compensation.
SRA rules -
participating insurers - FCA and SRA approved.
One sum - at least £3m (recognised and licensed) and £2m in all other cases.
Must be continuous.
If cannot extent will carry on for 90 days. Must inform SRA. If after 30 no cover found firm must notify SRA and not take on new work.
If still cannot be secured must cease practising.
SRA require to produce evidence -
Adequate and appropriate cover.
Applies to;
SRA authorised firms
Freelance solicitors
Solicitors in non-commercial organisations.
Firm look at what is adequate and appropriate on factors.
Firms cannot exclude or limit liability below minimum level.
Does not apply to freelance and non-commercial bodies.
Must be open with clients.
Freelance must inform not required to meet minimum.