Unregulated businesses are an important and growing part of the legal sector. It is estimated that there are at least 3,800 unregulated businesses providing legal services in England and Wales alone, with the largest number in the area of wills and estate administration - Page 8 of the Frontier Economics (2023), Understanding the Unreserved Market - report for the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

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Solomon & Law offers services that are innovative and convenient for consumers, and that are less expensive than the services offered by regulated providers. Unlike a regulated practice, with Solomon & Law operating on an unregulated basis, we are not answerable to The Law Society, the Solicitors Regulation Authority ("SRA"), the General Counsel of the Bar, and/or the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA"), and we do not have to hold high amounts of professional indemnity insurance, both of which significantly increase a law firms overheads forcing up fee rates nevertheless, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 ("CRA 2015") and  relevant regulations set requirements that apply to various aspects of an unregulated legal services provider’s dealings with consumers. It sits alongside other sector-specific legal and regulatory responsibilities we must comply with, in respect of our unregulated legal services businesses’ legal obligations. 

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Solomon & Law ordinarily provides legal assistance and advice, in exchange for financial or other tangible compensation, on commercial terms. The LSA 2007, includes the giving of legal advice within the definition of unreserved legal activities, which means that it can be provided by any person not just an officer of the court.​

Non-reserved activities include, for example, Alternative Dispute Resolution ("ADR"), Employment Law, Will Writing, and providing general legal advice, to name a few. Those involved in contractual or other disputes with individuals and businesses, are likely to need assistance and advice on a broader range of issues.

Non-reserved activities can be provided by Solomon & Law without a formal requirement for any particular training and/or qualification however, Solomon & Law ensure that we do not hold ourselves out in any way as practising, for example, as being described to clients as 'qualified lawyers'.

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Solomon & Law is prohibited from providing certain ‘reserved’ categories of legal services, and businesses that provide reserved services for a fee in contravention of these rules may commit an offence. This may include, for example, conducting litigation without a 'Right of Audience', the preparation of 'Grants of Probate and/or providing 'Notary Services '. 

In addition, individuals involved in the delivery of unregulated legal services may be subject to individual regulatory requirements, even if Solomon & Law is not regulated. Solomon & Law may also be a member of industry bodies or codes of practice, although these may not have the legal force of regulation. ​

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Riz Khan LLB (Hons)

Principal Associate