Solicitors Act 1974

Long titleAn Act to consolidate the Solicitors Acts 1957 to 1974 and certain other enactments relating to solicitors.

Citation1974 c. 47

Introduced byLord Elwyn-Jones (Lords)

Territorial extent

• England and Wales
• Scotland (in part)
• Northern Ireland (in part)

^[b]

Solicitors Act 1974^[a]

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to consolidate the Solicitors Acts 1957 to 1974 and certain other enactments relating to solicitors.
Citation	1974 c. 47
Introduced by	Lord Elwyn-Jones (Lords)
Territorial extent	England and Wales Scotland (in part) Northern Ireland (in part) [b]
Dates
Royal assent	31 July 1974
Commencement	1 May 1975[c]
Other legislation
Amends	Act of Settlement 1701
Repeals/revokes	Solicitors, Public Notaries, &c., Act 1949 Solicitors Act 1957 Solicitors Act 1965 Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1974
Amended by	House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 Interpretation Act 1978 Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 Criminal Justice Act 1982 Administration of Justice Act 1985 Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 Constitutional Reform Act 2005 Mental Capacity Act 2005 Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Legal Services Act 2007 Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Act 2018
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Text of the Solicitors Act 1974 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom governing the regulation and responsibilities of practicing solicitors, and the firms for whom they work, as well as stipulating under what circumstances one can practise as a solicitor. It also sets out the powers used by the solicitors governing body, the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

The act reserves certain activities for solicitors. Broadly, these include:

• Preparing and lodging certain documents concerning the conveyance or charging of land; Since repealed.
• Certain probate functions
• Undertaking litigation in open court