Autumn 2025 changes to Legal Services Regulations

1. Administration of oaths

ICAEW intends to incorporate the right for ICAEW probate-accredited to administer oaths from autumn 2025. There will be no additional fee for our probate-accredited firms to be able to offer this service.

Additional training

ICAEW is working with its training partner Mercia to ensure all accredited probate practitioners are fully trained in the ethical and statutory requirements for administering oaths.

2. Complaints handling

The updated regulations will:

• Include a clearer definition of ‘complainant’, expanded to include prospective clients.
• Clarify that data requested on complaints is non-exhaustive and may exceed minimum regulatory requirements to support oversight.
• Incorporate the LSB’s definition of a client into the regulations for improved clarity.

Reporting requirements for firms

As part of the revised Legal Services Regulations, accredited firms will be required to submit enhanced information as part of their periodic return to ICAEW. This includes, but is not limited to:

• The number of complaints received
• The category of each complaint (eg, service or conduct)
• The number of complaints resolved within eight weeks
• Data relating to the administration of oaths, where applicable

 ICAEW may also request additional information beyond what is explicitly required by the regulations. This helps us maintain high standards of oversight and a detailed understanding of each firm’s regulated activities.

Supervision and monitoring

Existing regulatory mechanisms will continue, including:

• Monitoring through continuing professional development checks and legal services oversight visits
• Collection of data via the ICAEW annual return, including standard complaint categories and timeliness metrics
• Use of a model complaints procedure in the accompanying guidance

Further information

• Read more information about the response to the consultation
• Annual return FAQs for firms accredited for legal services