Law Society of Scotland
This information reflects the Society's web site at the date you downloaded or printed it and you should check at www.lawscot.org.uk to see if it is still current.

Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010

This page displays consultation papers issued by the Scottish Government in relation to the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010 which received Royal Assent on 9 November 2010.

The primary aim of the Act is to remove the current restrictions in the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 on how solicitors can organise their businesses. It will allow solicitors to form partnerships with non-solicitors, and to seek investment from outside the profession.

The new business entities permitted by the Act will be called licensed legal services providers ("licensed providers").

Ownership and control of firms providing legal services under the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010

This consultation is intended to seek views and inform the Scottish Ministers' decision on who should be included in the definition of "regulated profession" in section 49 of the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010, and so be permitted to own a majority or controlling share in a licensed provider.

 

For more information on Alternative Business Structures (ABS) please refer to the ABS section of our website.