Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP – PART 2
The Appeal and Why Finding the Right Solicitor Matters More Than Ever
Following our last article of the High Court handing down its decision in Mazur & Ors v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP in late 2025, the legal profession experienced a period of significant uncertainty. The judgment clarified, in unambiguous terms, that only individuals who are personally authorised may lawfully conduct litigation, i.e. qualified solicitors. Supervision of junior unqualified staff, however robust, was not sufficient.
That judgment is now before the Court of Appeal.
For solicitors, regulators and professional bodies, the appeal raises questions of statutory interpretation and regulatory balance. For the public, including individuals, families and small businesses, the issue is far more practical.
How can you be sure that the person handling your case is legally authorised to do so?
It is precisely this uncertainty that brings services such as Find Me A Solicitor into sharper focus.
A Case Still Reshaping Litigation
The High Court’s decision in Mazur fundamentally altered how litigation work must be structured within law firms. By confirming that the conduct of litigation under the Legal Services Act 2007 is a strictly reserved legal activity, the Court dismantled long standing assumptions about delegation, internal supervision and the role of non-authorised staff within litigation teams.
Although the Court did not invalidate the underlying proceedings in Mazur, the judgment required firms to urgently reassess their compliance models. Many firms undertook quiet internal reviews, while others expressed concern about the impact on staffing, cost structures and access to justice.
As the case now proceeds to the Court of Appeal, uncertainty remains. For clients seeking legal assistance, uncertainty itself creates risk in regards to who is qualified to conduct a case.
This is why identifying a properly authorised solicitor, rather than simply engaging a legal provider, has become absolutely essential.
What the Appeal Is Really About
The appeal, brought by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, challenges the High Court’s interpretation of the Legal Services Act 2007. At its core, it asks whether Parliament intended to exclude experienced and supervised non solicitors from conducting litigation altogether, or whether the High Court adopted an overly restrictive interpretation of the statutory framework.
For the legal profession, this is a debate about regulatory structure and professional roles.
For clients, the issue is simpler and more immediate.
- Who is legally permitted to issue a claim?
- Who signs court documents and takes responsibility for procedural steps?
- Who is accountable if something goes wrong?
Platforms such as Find Me A Solicitor exist to remove this uncertainty by connecting users directly with solicitors who are authorised, regulated and properly insured to conduct litigation.
The Appeal Hearing and the Period of Uncertainty
The Court of Appeal has listed the Mazur appeal for February 2026. Until the appeal is determined, the High Court’s judgment remains binding.
At present, this means that only authorised individuals may conduct litigation and law firms must comply with the stricter interpretation confirmed by the High Court.
During periods of regulatory change, many clients assume that instructing a law firm automatically guarantees compliance. The Mazur decision demonstrates that this assumption can be unsafe.
Using a service such as Find Me A Solicitor helps mitigate this risk by ensuring that clients are matched with professionals who are clearly authorised to conduct litigation, rather than merely assist with it.
Why the Appeal Matters for Access to Justice
One of the principal criticisms of the Mazur judgment is its potential impact on access to justice. Firms that previously relied on teams of paralegals or non-solicitor caseworkers have been required to restructure their litigation practices, often increasing costs that are ultimately passed on to clients.
For individuals already facing financial barriers to legal representation, this creates a dual challenge of higher costs and reduced clarity about who is qualified to act.
Find Me A Solicitor addresses this issue not by offering shortcuts, but by ensuring that any expenditure on legal services is directed toward professionals who are legally entitled to conduct litigation. Access to justice is not enhanced by lower cost services that later prove to be non-compliant.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Client Risk
The Mazur appeal is unfolding against a backdrop of increased regulatory scrutiny from the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Legal Services Board and professional bodies across the sector. Firms have been reminded that supervision does not equate to authorisation and that responsibility for compliance rests firmly with the firm.
For clients, regulatory breaches can have practical and financial consequences. Costs recovery may be challenged, procedural objections may arise, and professional indemnity insurance may be scrutinised.
By directing clients to solicitors who hold practising certificates and litigation rights, Find Me A Solicitor helps reduce these risks and reinforces accountability from the outset.
What Clients Should Be Asking Now
In light of the Mazur decision and during the appeal process, clients should feel confident in asking fundamental questions before instructing a legal professional.
- Are you personally authorised to conduct litigation?
- Will you be responsible for issuing documents and managing my case?
- Are you regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority?
- Do you hold appropriate practising rights?
Many clients are unaware that these distinctions matter, and others feel uncomfortable raising them. Find Me A Solicitor removes this discomfort by making authorisation and regulatory status part of the matching process itself.
Why the Appeal Reinforces the Value of a Solicitor
Regardless of whether the Court of Appeal upholds, refines or overturns the High Court’s decision, one conclusion is already clear. Litigation is not an area in which responsibility can safely be delegated to individuals without personal authorisation.
The appeal may adjust the boundaries of who may conduct litigation, but it will not remove the need for proper authorisation, regulatory oversight and personal accountability.
Find Me A Solicitor in a Changing Legal Landscape
As litigation practice becomes more regulated, more scrutinised and more complex, clear and reliable signposting becomes increasingly important. Find Me A Solicitor supports clients by connecting them with authorised solicitors, matching them with legal specialism rather than firm name alone, reducing regulatory and procedural risk, and providing confidence during periods of legal uncertainty.
In a post Mazur landscape, and particularly while the appeal remains unresolved, knowing who is legally entitled to act on your behalf is not a technical detail. It is essential.
Certainty Matters
The appeal in Mazur will play a significant role in shaping the future of litigation practice in England and Wales. Yet while the courts consider these issues, individuals and businesses continue to bring and defend claims every day.
In times of legal uncertainty, certainty matters.
That certainty begins with the right solicitor.
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