Will-writing could eventually be brought within the scope of regulation, despite the government’s spurning of the profession’s call to make it a reserved activity.

Justice secretary Chris Grayling last week responded to the Legal Services Board’s recommendation for regulation by saying there was insufficient evidence to suggest the extension would improve consumer protection.

But Grayling indicated that a decision on will-writing might also have conflicted with separate work that could lead to the sector becoming more regulated.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: ‘We want to simplify the regulatory framework for the legal services sector and reduce the burdens on the industry.’