Commentary on Sections Background Section 12: Meaning of “reserved legal activities” and “legal activity”
64.This section lists the legal activities that are to be regulated under the Act (the “reserved legal activities”). Schedule 2 sets out the meaning of each activity. The definition of “legal activity” is set out at section 12(3), though not every legal activity is necessarily regulated under the Act. However, under section 24 the Lord Chancellor may, by order, amend section 12 and Schedule 2 so as to add any legal activity to the list of reserved legal activities for the purposes of the Act.
65.The “reserved legal activities” defined by section 12 are all activities that were regulated under previously enacted legislation.