The Legal Services Act 2007 (Licensing Authority) Order 2014

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.