Theatre works in animation. In real life, rights of audience and conduct of litigation are reserved legal activities. You cannot just roll into court like a bee with a briefcase. That is why peer advocacy has limits, and why legal advocacy carries regulation.

At a glance

What the Legal Services Act 2007 actually cares about

The Act sets boundaries around specific activities known as reserved legal activities. The two that matter most for everyday readers are:

• Rights of audience, speaking for someone in a court or tribunal where that right is restricted.
• Conduct of litigation, taking formal steps in court proceedings on someone else’s behalf, such as issuing claims or managing filings.

Peer advocates do not do either of these. They help you prepare, understand, and express yourself. You remain the decision maker and the signatory. If a situation needs a professional with rights of audience or someone to conduct litigation, that is a job for an authorised legal representative.

So what can a peer advocate actually do

• Help you build a timeline and pack your evidence so it is usable.
• Draft letters in plain English for you to send, checking tone and clarity.
• Support you in meetings, take notes, and prompt you on the points you wanted to cover.
• Translate policy and process into everyday language so you can make informed choices.
• Spot when an issue has crossed into legal territory and signpost you to regulated professionals.

Lines we will not cross

We are strict about red lines. It protects you and the integrity of your case.

• We do not claim to be solicitors or barristers.
• We do not file court documents for you or manage litigation for you.
• We do not speak for you in a court or tribunal that requires rights of audience.
• We do not give regulated legal representation. We give structured support and lived experience insight.

How The Reasonable Adjustment fits in

The Reasonable Adjustment is not a law firm. It is an advocacy platform. I do not legally represent other people, nor would I ever claim to be their legal representative. When The Reasonable Adjustment is described as representing anything, it means me representing myself through this platform in the public interest, especially where disabled people face barriers. The site exists to amplify rights and reduce the information gap that often leaves people disadvantaged.

I knew from the start that pushing back against the status quo would upset people with legal backgrounds. That is their role, to challenge. Because of that, I went far beyond what an average SME would do with disclaimers, terms, and policies. You can find them in our Legal Disclaimer, Terms of Use, and elsewhere. Everything is transparent and in writing.

This was a deliberate, pre emptive step to make sure no one could frame good faith advocacy work here as breaking the Legal Services Act 2007. I stay within peer support boundaries, do not cross into reserved activities, and make the lines clear. That protects both readers and the project.

Why the disclaimers matter

You will see permanent warnings, disclaimers in the footer, and whole pages dedicated to boundaries. That is deliberate. By laying out clear disclaimers and transparent policies, I have taken the sting out of weak attempts to suggest The Reasonable Adjustment is breaking the Act.

I have gone further than many SMEs or charities. Permanent on site warnings, a legal disclaimer page, terms of use, a detailed privacy policy, and a legitimate interests assessment are all public. This means when I use The Reasonable Adjustment in the public interest, especially for disabled people, the line between peer advocacy and legal advocacy is not just respected, it is documented.

Critics will still disagree, that is their job. But disagreement does not erase that this is lawful, transparent, public interest advocacy, not reserved legal activity.

Why this matters, beyond the technicalities

Framing rights as optional courtesies is how people get steamrolled. Our platform is built on the idea that knowledge plus preparation changes outcomes. Peer advocacy gets you organised. Legal advocacy takes the wheel when law requires authority. Use both wisely and you are not a soft target.

How we run peer led advocacy at The Reasonable Adjustment

• Ground rules in writing, see our Advocacy Agreement.
• Informal, rights aware support, see Informal Advocacy Support.
• Data and privacy, our Privacy Policy explains how we handle information.
• Site guardrails, see Legal Disclaimer and Terms of Use.
• Equality matters, see our writing on Section 20, Equality Act 2010.

When to bring in a regulated lawyer

• You need someone to file claims or applications for you.
• A hearing requires someone to speak for you.
• The other side is running technical legal points.
• You face court deadlines, procedural traps, or complex remedies.

Good cases are built early. A peer advocate can help you organise. A lawyer can then deploy it with rights the law requires.

Common myths, cleared up

• “If you help me write a letter, that is legal representation.” No. You still sign and decide, and no reserved activity is triggered.
• “Peer advocates can speak for me anywhere.” Not in settings that require rights of audience. They can sit with you, prep with you, and keep you calm.
• “Legal advice is always reserved.” Correct. We never provide legal advice and we are clear about that from the outset. Our articles, while written in good faith, do not constitute legal advice and cannot replace the guidance of a qualified solicitor. They exist to provide free education, peer support, and awareness raising so that readers are better prepared to make informed decisions.

Our promise to readers

We will always tell you which hat we are wearing. If it is peer support, we say so. If your matter needs a regulated professional, we say so. No ego, just humility.