Last amended by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 in 2024. 2 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
The Legal Services Act 2007 reformed regulation of legal services in England and Wales. It created the Legal Services Board as oversight regulator, allowed Alternative Business Structures (ABS) enabling non-lawyers to own law firms, and defined reserved legal activities.
Key Points
- Legal Services Board (LSB) established as oversight regulator
- Regulatory objectives including protecting consumers and promoting competition
- Reserved legal activities: exercise of rights of audience, conduct of litigation, reserved instrument activities, probate, notarial, and oath administration
- Alternative Business Structures (ABS) — non-lawyers can own and invest in law firms
- Office for Legal Complaints — established the Legal Ombudsman
- Approved regulators — SRA, BSB, CILEx Regulation, etc. regulated by LSB
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2007 — The Legal Services Act 2007 (Commencement No. 6, Transitory, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2009
66 commencement (coming-into-force) effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2000 — The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Claims Management Activity) Order 2018
14 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2022 — Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022
10 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2023 — Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
4 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).
2024 — Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024
2 recorded amendment effects (legislation.gov.uk changes data).