The Legal Profession Can Breathe Again
For the past six months, law firms across the country have been operating in a state of controlled panic. The original Mazur judgment from September 2025 — handed down by Mr. Justice Sheldon — had suggested that anyone not personally authorised under the Legal Services Act 2007 couldn't conduct litigation, even under the supervision of a qualified solicitor. That meant paralegals, trainee solicitors, legal executives, and registered foreign lawyers were all potentially acting unlawfully.
Today, the Court of Appeal put that panic to rest. Lord Justice Birss, sitting with the Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos and Lady Justice Andrews, confirmed what the entire profession had been desperately hoping: it is not unlawful for supervised, unauthorised staff to conduct litigation on behalf of an authorised practitioner.
What the Ruling Actually Says
The judgment is explicit: delegated practice — where a solicitor delegates litigation tasks to a paralegal, trainee, or CILEX member working under their supervision — remains lawful, provided the authorised individual retains overall responsibility and puts in place "appropriate arrangements for direction, management, supervision, and control."
In plain English: you can still have your trainee file documents, your paralegal prepare witness statements, and your legal executive handle case management. You just need a qualified solicitor overseeing the work, which is exactly how every law firm has operated for decades.
Why This Matters Beyond Law Firms
The original Mazur ruling didn't just threaten law firm operations — it threatened access to justice. Legal aid providers, law centres, and pro bono organisations rely heavily on supervised paralegals to keep costs manageable and caseloads moving. Without them, the cost of legal representation would increase dramatically, and the people who can least afford it would be hit hardest. Today's ruling ensures that doesn't happen.