{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/legal-services-act-2007/section-181",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/legal-services-act-2007/section-181.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2007/29",
  "legislation_title": "Legal Services Act 2007",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/legal-services-act-2007",
  "path": "section/181",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "181",
  "heading": "Unqualified person not to pretend to be a barrister",
  "text": "(1) It is an offence for a person who is not a barrister—\n(a) wilfully to pretend to be a barrister, or\n(b) with the intention of implying falsely that that person is a barrister to take or use any name, title or description.\n(2) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable—\n(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both), and\n(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine (or both).\n(3) In relation to an offence under subsection (1) committed before 2 May 2022, the reference in subsection (2)(a) to the general limit in a magistrates’ court is to be read as a reference to 6 months.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 181(2)(a) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 181(3) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(1), Sch. Pt. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 181(3) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/29/section/181",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:12:22.589914+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}