Useful definitions
This is an abridged glossary of the terms we use. For a more comprehensive glossary, visit Legal Services Act – Glossary of terms.
- Agreements
- Agreements are regulatory decisions made by us, the terms of which are accepted by the individual. They are not the equivalent of settlement of part of a commercial dispute.
- Recognised bodies
- A recognised body is a partnership, limited liability partnership (LLP) or a company, providing legal services and regulated by us.
- recognition of firms known as recognised bodies
- A partnership, company or limited liability partnership (LLP) must obtain recognition from us before we will agree to them being regulated by us. We will recognise such a firm as long as it meets specified criteria. A firm recognised by us in this way is known as a "recognised body". The firm is required to renew its recognition every year.
- conditions on recognition
- If we decide it is in the public interest, we may impose conditions that control the way the firm can practise. These conditions may, for example, limit, restrict, or halt the firm's activities.
- revocation of recognition
- In certain circumstances, we may revoke our recognition of a firm. If we do this, we no longer recognise the firm as regulated by us and able to provide legal services.
- Manager of a recognised body
- A manager is
- a partner in a partnership,
- a member of a limited liability partnership (LLP),
- a director of a company.
- A manager may be a lawyer or non-lawyer.
- Lawyers include barristers, licensed conveyancers, legal executives, notaries, patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys and law costs draftsmen.
- withdrawal of approval of a non-lawyer manager
- Managers of a firm being a recognised body may be lawyers or non-lawyers.
A non-lawyer may only be a manager if they are approved by us. We only approve individuals who meet specified criteria. Once approved by us, we regulate the individual as a manager. We may withdraw approval if the individual no longer meets the criteria set.
- Recognised sole practitioner
- A solicitor or REL who practises on their own account, without any other lawyers or non-lawyers being their partner. They may employ other lawyers or non-lawyers.
- Authorisation
- An individual must be authorised by us to practise on their own.
- Conditions
- In certain circumstances we may impose conditions which, for example restrict the way in which a recognised sole practitioner may work. If we do this, conditions are imposed on the practising certificate where the practitioner is a solicitor or where the individual is a registered European lawyer, on their registration.
- revocation of authorisation
- In certain circumstances we may revoke our authorisation of a recognised sole practitioner. If we do this, they are no longer entitled to practise on their own.
- REL
- An REL is a registered European lawyer and is a European lawyer who is registered with the SRA.
- RFL
- An RFL is a registered foreign lawyer and is a non-European lawyer who is registered with the SRA.
- solicitor
- A solicitor is an individual who is on the roll of solicitors of England and Wales. If a solicitor is delivering legal services, they require a practising certificate from us.
- SRA Contact
- This is the person we are likely to contact for a response on behalf of the firm to an allegation of misconduct. Firm’s identify a contact when submitting and renewing their application for recognition or authorisation.