What are reserved legal activities?

Reserved Legal Activities refer to types of work, such as litigation, that only authorised or exempt individuals can carry out under the Legal Services Act 2007.  These activities are tightly regulated because they involve significant legal responsibility and access to the courts.

Example of reserved activities

  • Rights of Audience -  Appearing before and addressing a court as an advocate

  • Conduct of Litigation- Court Proceedings -  issuing and defending cases in court and related applications

  • Administration of Oaths - Taking oaths, swearing affidavits and statutory declarations

What are non-reserved legal activities?

Legal work that can be provided by anyone regardless of qualification

Example of non-reserved activities

  • General advice, reviewing a lease, advising on lease terms, break notices, dilapidations, forfeiture, service charge issues

  • Drafting, contracts, wills, tenancy agreements, serving of notices, letters prior to court proceedings

  • Pre- litigation correspondence where litigation may be contemplated but not yet commenced

  • Informal dispute resolution such as mediation, ADR