Legal Services

Question 1

What are the six reserved legal activities?

Answer 1

1) The exercise of the right to audience (calling a witness for cross-examination)

2) The conduct of litigation (issuing proceedings)

3) Reserved instrument activities (preparing or lodging a formal legal document relating to proceedings)

4) Probate activities (preparing grant of probate papers, letter of administration papers)

5) Notarial Activities (certifying/authenticating formal documents)

6) The administration of oaths (swearing in documents)

Question 2

What is the relevance of reserved legal activities?

Answer 2

Anyone individual/firm offering to carry out a reserved legal activity must be AUTHORISED to do so.

Carrying out a reserved legal activity without authorisation is a criminal offence.

Question 3

What is the Legal Services Board and who/what does it oversee?

Answer 3

LSB is the body that is responsible for overseeing all lawyers in England and Wales.

It provides a list of approved regulators who regulate the different legal service sectors (SRA for solicitors)

Question 4

When is a solicitor deemed ‘authorised’ to carry out reserved legal activities?

Answer 4

• They have been admitted as a solicitor
• Their name is on the roll
• They have a practising certificate

Question 5

What are the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 5

1) Race
2) Religion
3) Gender
4) Sexual Orientation
5) Disability
6) Gender Reassignment
7) Age
8) Marital Status
9) Pregnancy

Question 6

What is prohibited conduct under the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 6

1) Direct Discrimination - no defence except for age.
2) Indirect Discrimination - pregnancy discrimination cannot be indirect.
3) Disability Discrimination