{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-functions-of-authorised-persons-civil-proceedings-rules-2020/schedule/paragraph-2",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-functions-of-authorised-persons-civil-proceedings-rules-2020/schedule/paragraph-2.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2020/284",
  "legislation_title": "The Magistrates’ Courts (Functions of Authorised Persons – Civil Proceedings) Rules 2020",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-functions-of-authorised-persons-civil-proceedings-rules-2020",
  "path": "schedule/paragraph/2",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "2",
  "heading": "Functions exercisable only by an authorised court officer who is legally qualified",
  "text": "An authorised court officer who is legally qualified may (but an authorised court officer who is not legally qualified may not)—\n(a) determine an application to extend a time limit set by a rule or by the court;\n(b) give, vary or revoke directions for the conduct of proceedings, including—\n(i) the timetable for the case;\n(ii) the attendance of the parties;\n(iii) the service of documents (including summaries of any legal arguments relied on by the parties);\n(iv) the manner in which evidence is to be given, insofar as these Rules make no other provision;\n(c) actively manage the case in accordance with rule 3A of the Magistrates’ Courts Rules 1981;\n(d) impose a reporting restriction under section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (identity of a person under 18) where there is no objection to the order;\n(e) give permission for proceedings to be recorded;\n(f) ask a court security officer to remove a person from a courtroom;\n(g) issue a summons and give directions for its service;\n(h) dismiss a complaint where the complainant offers no evidence, provided that evidence has not been received on a previous occasion;\n(i) amend a complaint;\n(j) remand the defendant and grant bail where—\n(i) the defendant is present; and\n(ii) the complainant agrees to the grant of bail;\n(k) require a person who has made a written statement to attend before the court to give evidence;\n(l) issue a witness summons and give directions for its service;\n(m) issue a warrant of control;\n(n) extend the time for payment of a financial order (other than payment under a postponed warrant of commitment);\n(o) vary an order for the payment by instalments of a financial order (other than payment under a postponed warrant of commitment);\n(p) make an attachment of earnings order;\n(q) require the appellant to enter into a recognizance under section 114 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 on an application to state a case for the opinion of the High Court;\n(r) order a report to assist in the determination of a case;\n(s) make or vary an order for a party to pay costs, if both parties agree;\n(t) make or vary an order for another person to pay costs, if that person agrees;\n(u) revoke a suspended disqualification imposed under the Child Support Act 1991 where the sum has been paid in full;\n(v) vary, discharge, remit, remove, revoke, review or suspend an order which an authorised court officer may make;\n(w) take a recognisance in any proceedings.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "S.I. 1981/552. Rule 3A was inserted by S.I. 2009/3362, rules 2 and 3."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "1933 c. 12."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "1980 c. 43."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f4",
      "text": "1991 c. 48."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/284/schedule/paragraph/2",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T22:32:23.211898+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."
}