Index: python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip
===================================================================
--- python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip	(revision 15766)
+++ python/gui/qgslegendinterface.sip	(working copy)
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@
     //! Add a new group
     //! @note added parent parameter in 1.7
     virtual int addGroup( QString name, bool expand = true, QTreeWidgetItem* parent =0 ) = 0;
+    
+    //! Add a new group
+    //! @note added parentIndex parameter in 1.7
+    virtual int addGroup( QString name, bool expand, int parentIndex ) = 0;
 
     //! Remove group on index
     virtual void removeGroup( int groupIndex ) =0;
Index: src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h
===================================================================
--- src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h	(revision 15766)
+++ src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.h	(working copy)
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@
 
     //! Add a new group
     int addGroup( QString name, bool expand = true, QTreeWidgetItem* parent = 0 );
+    
+    //! Add a new group at a specified index
+    int addGroup( QString name, bool expand, int groupIndex  );
 
     //! Remove all groups with the given name
     void removeGroup( int groupIndex );
Index: src/app/legend/qgslegend.cpp
===================================================================
--- src/app/legend/qgslegend.cpp	(revision 15766)
+++ src/app/legend/qgslegend.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -159,7 +159,8 @@
 
 int QgsLegend::addGroup( QString name, bool expand, QTreeWidgetItem* parent )
 {
-  if ( name.isEmpty() )
+  bool nameEmpty = name.isEmpty();
+  if ( nameEmpty )
     name = tr( "group" ); // some default name if none specified
 
   QgsLegendGroup *parentGroup = dynamic_cast<QgsLegendGroup *>( parent );
@@ -173,10 +174,18 @@
   QModelIndex groupIndex = indexFromItem( group );
   setExpanded( groupIndex, expand );
   setCurrentItem( group );
-  openEditor();
+  if (nameEmpty)
+    openEditor();
+
   return groupIndex.row();
 }
 
+int QgsLegend::addGroup( QString name, bool expand, int groupIndex )
+{
+  QgsLegendGroup * lg = dynamic_cast<QgsLegendGroup *>( topLevelItem( groupIndex ) );
+  return addGroup(name, expand, lg);
+}
+
 void QgsLegend::removeAll()
 {
   clear();
Index: src/app/legend/qgslegend.h
===================================================================
--- src/app/legend/qgslegend.h	(revision 15766)
+++ src/app/legend/qgslegend.h	(working copy)
@@ -236,6 +236,15 @@
      * @return index of inserted group
      */
     int addGroup( QString name = QString(), bool expand = true, QTreeWidgetItem* parent = 0 );
+    
+    /*!
+     * Slot called when user wishes to add a new empty layer group to the legend.
+     * All parameter are mandatory to be used to programatically nest a new group
+     * @param name name of the new group
+     * @param expand expand the group
+     * @return index of inserted group
+     */
+    int addGroup( QString name, bool expand, int parentIndex );
 
     /*!
      * Removes all groups with the given name.
Index: src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp
===================================================================
--- src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp	(revision 15766)
+++ src/app/legend/qgsapplegendinterface.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@
   return mLegend->addGroup( name, expand, parent );
 }
 
+int QgsAppLegendInterface::addGroup( QString name, bool expand, int parentIndex )
+{
+  return mLegend->addGroup( name, expand, parentIndex );
+}
+
 void QgsAppLegendInterface::removeGroup( int groupIndex )
 {
   mLegend->removeGroup( groupIndex );
Index: src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h
===================================================================
--- src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h	(revision 15766)
+++ src/gui/qgslegendinterface.h	(working copy)
@@ -83,6 +83,10 @@
     //! Add a new group
     //! a parent group can be given to nest the new group in it
     virtual int addGroup( QString name, bool expand = true, QTreeWidgetItem* parent = 0 ) = 0;
+    
+    //! Add a new group
+    //! a parent group index has to be given to nest the new group in it
+    virtual int addGroup( QString name, bool expand, int parentIndex ) = 0;
 
     //! Remove group on index
     virtual void removeGroup( int groupIndex ) = 0;