Access the current ICAEW Legal Services Regulations and Legal Services Compensation Scheme Regulations, information on any recent amendments and previous versions within our regulations archive.
Current regulations
- Legal Services Regulations effective 1 October 2026
- Legal Services Compensation Scheme Regulations effective 9 April 2024
- Memorandum of understanding with other regulators effective 1 March 2019
ICAEW works collaboratively with other regulators of legal services where their members practise within ICAEW-licensed firms and vice versa. The protocols for enforcement procedures between the bodies are set out in a Memorandum of Understanding updated 1 March 2019 for GDPR and the addition of ACCA.
Who do the regulations apply to?
The Legal Services Regulations apply to authorised legal services work for uncontested probate and the administration of oaths in England and Wales, and they apply to firms seeking ICAEW accreditation and to ICAEW-accredited legal services firms authorised or licensed under these regulations. The regulations also apply to principals and employees of the firm. In certain instances, the regulations continue to apply even if accreditation has ceased.
Most recent amendments
The Legal Services Regulations were updated on 1 October 2026 to reflect the new governance arrangements for legal services oversight introduced in April 2026 and minor consequential terminology changes.
Previous regulations (archive)
Note that documents older than 2023 use the term "probate".
