Commentary on Sections Background Section 18: Authorised persons
76.A person is an “authorised person” in relation to a particular reserved legal activity if the person is authorised to carry on that activity by a relevant approved regulator (other than by virtue of a licence under Part 5) or the person is a licensable body and holds a licence under Part 5 which authorises the carrying on of the activity.
77.Sections 18(3) and (4) (together with Schedule 5 and Schedule 22) provide that certain existing bodies which would otherwise be required to obtain a licence under Part 5, are either deemed to be authorised or treated as exempt persons during a transitional period, after which point such bodies will need to become licensed.