The Court of Appeal’s decision in Mazur has been gaining considerable attention within the legal profession, and it is easy to understand why. The case questions what non-authorised staff can and can’t do in litigation under the Legal Services Act 2007. The appeal probes how much responsibility legal executives, trainees and paralegals can assume in litigation, potentially redefining traditional law firm roles.
What Did the High Court Originally Decide?
At its heart is the case of Mazur and another v Charles Russell Speechlys [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB), which is already being talked about as one of the most significant legal regulation decisions in years. The case raised questions over whether non-authorised staff (such as paralegals or legal executives) could conduct litigation. The High Court took a strict view, ultimately concluding they cannot. This includes where a solicitor is overseeing their work of if they are employed by an authorised firm. Now, the Court of Appeal is taking a closer look at that position, how far it really goes, and what it means in practice for litigation teams across firms of all sizes.
What Could This Mean in Practice?
If the original decision stands in its current form, firms may need to rethink how they allocate cases. More tasks could end up sitting with authorised lawyers, which could impact staffing, the cost of litigation, and ultimately how accessible legal services are for clients.
That said, it is worth stressing that nothing is settled just yet.
The case is still being considered by the Court of Appeal, and regulators like the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX), or the Law Society haven’t issued any final guidance so far. So, for now, there remains a degree of uncertainty.
At Berlad Graham, we are keeping a close eye on how things develop. Regardless of the outcome, we will ensure our processes stay fully compliant, and our clients can be confident they won’t see any disruption to the service they rely on.
For now, it is a wait and see situation, whether it is business as usual or a fundamental change in the way litigation is handled across the profession. We will be following it closely and share updates and things become clearer.
Article written by Sophie Masters, Paralegal.
Dispute Resolution Solicitors Uxbridge
If you have any questions about your litigation matter or how changes in the law may affect your case, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our dispute resolution team.
You can speak to our friendly, experienced, professional dispute resolution lawyers in Uxbridge and Cumbria today, please call 0330 175 5655 or email info@bglaw.co.uk.
