Administration of Justice Act 1985

6 Preparation of conveyancing documents by unqualified persons

(1) Section 22 of the [1974 c. 47.] Solicitors Act 1974 (restriction on person preparing certain instruments when not qualified to act as a solicitor) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1), for " subsection (2)" there shall be substituted " subsections (2) and (2A)".

(3) After subsection (2) there shall be inserted—

“(2A) Subsection (1) also does not apply to any act done by a person at the direction and under the supervision of another person if—

(a) that other person was at the time his employer, a partner of his employer or a fellow employee ; and

(b) the act could have been done by that other person for or in expectation of any fee, gain or reward without committing an offence under this section.”.

(4) In subsection (3)—

(a) after " instrument" there shall be inserted " includes a contract for the sale or other disposition of land (except a contract to grant such a lease as is referred to in section 54(2) of the [1925 c. 20.] Law of Property Act 1925 (short leases)), but"; and

(b) at the end of paragraph (b) there shall be inserted " other than a contract that is included by virtue of the preceding provisions of this subsection ; " .

(5) After that subsection there shall be inserted—

“(4) A local weights and measures authority may institute proceedings for an offence under this section.”.