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Legal Complaints and Regulation Act (Northern Ireland) 2016

2016 nia 14 · Enacted 11 April 2016 · Extends to Northern Ireland

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 1 July 2026.

An Act to make provision for the establishment of the office of the Legal Services Oversight Commissioner for Northern Ireland; to make provision as regards complaints against members of the legal profession in Northern Ireland; and for connected purposes.

[11th April 2016]

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by Her Majesty as follows:

Contents

  1. Part 1: THE LEGAL SERVICES OVERSIGHT COMMISSIONER FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
  2. 1The Legal Services Oversight Commissioner for Northern Ireland
  3. 2General powers of the Commissioner
  4. 3Duty of certain bodies to consult Commissioner
  5. 4Duty of Commissioner to review certain matters
  6. 5The levy
  7. 6The levy: supplementary provisions
  8. 7Payments by Department
  9. 8Privilege for certain publications
  10. 9Lay observer
  11. 10Interpretation of Part 1
  12. Part 2: COMPLAINTS AGAINST BARRISTERS
  13. Complaints procedures for barristers
  14. 11Complaints procedures for barristers
  15. Bar Complaints Committee
  16. 12Bar Complaints Committee
  17. 13Jurisdiction of the Bar Complaints Committee
  18. 14Excluded complaints
  19. 15Complainants
  20. 16Orders under section 15
  21. 17Procedure for complaints
  22. 18Notification requirements
  23. Determinations by Bar Complaints Committee
  24. 19Determination of complaints
  25. 20Alteration of compensation limit
  26. Appeals
  27. 21Appeals
  28. Information
  29. 22Information and documents
  30. 23Reporting failures to provide information or produce documents
  31. 24Enforcement of requirements to provide information or produce documents
  32. 25Reports of investigations
  33. Defamation
  34. 26Protection from defamation claims
  35. Rules
  36. 27Consultation requirements for Bar Complaints Committee rules
  37. Interpretation
  38. 28Interpretation of Part 2
  39. Part 3: COMPLAINTS AGAINST SOLICITORS
  40. Complaints procedures for solicitors
  41. 29Complaints procedures for solicitors
  42. Solicitors Complaints Committee
  43. 30Solicitors Complaints Committee
  44. 31Jurisdiction of the Solicitors Complaints Committee
  45. 32Excluded complaints
  46. 33Complainants
  47. 34Orders under section 33
  48. 35Continuity of complaints
  49. 36Procedure for complaints
  50. 37Notification requirements
  51. Determinations by Solicitors Complaints Committee
  52. 38Determination of complaints
  53. 39Alteration of compensation limits
  54. Appeals
  55. 40Appeals
  56. Information
  57. 41Information and documents
  58. 42Reporting failures to provide information or produce documents
  59. 43Enforcement of requirements to provide information or produce documents
  60. 44Reports of investigation
  61. Defamation
  62. 45Protection from defamation claims
  63. Rules
  64. 46Consultation requirements for Solicitors Complaints Committee rules
  65. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
  66. 47The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
  67. Interpretation
  68. 48Recognised bodies
  69. 49Interpretation of Part 3
  70. Part 4: GENERAL
  71. 50Interpretation
  72. 51Review
  73. 52Further provision
  74. 53Minor and consequential amendments
  75. 54Repeals
  76. 55Commencement
  77. 56Short title
  78. Schedule 1: THE LEGAL SERVICES OVERSIGHT COMMISSIONER FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
  79. Status
  80. 1Paragraph 1
  81. General powers
  82. 2Paragraph 2
  83. Tenure of office
  84. 3Paragraph 3
  85. Acting Commissioner
  86. 4Paragraph 4
  87. Salary, etc.
  88. 5Paragraph 5
  89. Staff
  90. 6Paragraph 6
  91. 7Paragraph 7
  92. 8Paragraph 8
  93. Exercise of functions of Commissioner
  94. 9Paragraph 9
  95. Seal
  96. 10Paragraph 10
  97. Evidence
  98. 11Paragraph 11
  99. Property
  100. 12Paragraph 12
  101. Accounts
  102. 13Paragraph 13
  103. Annual report
  104. 14Paragraph 14
  105. The Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25)
  106. 15Paragraph 15
  107. The Commissioner for Complaints (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (NI 7)
  108. 16Paragraph 16
  109. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36)
  110. 17Paragraph 17
  111. Schedule 2: THE BAR COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE
  112. Membership
  113. 1Paragraph 1
  114. 2Paragraph 2
  115. 3Paragraph 3
  116. 4Paragraph 4
  117. Terms of office
  118. 5Paragraph 5
  119. Remuneration, etc. of members
  120. 6Paragraph 6
  121. Arrangements for assistance
  122. 7Paragraph 7
  123. Sub-committees
  124. 8Paragraph 8
  125. Proceedings
  126. 9Paragraph 9
  127. Schedule 3: THE SOLICITORS COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE
  128. Membership
  129. 1Paragraph 1
  130. 2Paragraph 2
  131. 3Paragraph 3
  132. 4Paragraph 4
  133. Terms of office
  134. 5Paragraph 5
  135. Remuneration, etc. of members
  136. 6Paragraph 6
  137. Arrangements for assistance
  138. 7Paragraph 7
  139. Sub-committees
  140. 8Paragraph 8
  141. Proceedings
  142. 9Paragraph 9
  143. Schedule 4: MINOR AND CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
  144. The Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25)
  145. 1Paragraph 1
  146. The Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (NI 12)
  147. 2Paragraph 2
  148. The Solicitors (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (NI 14)
  149. 3Paragraph 3
  150. 4Paragraph 4
  151. The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (c. 33)
  152. 5Paragraph 5
  153. 6Paragraph 6
  154. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36)
  155. 7Paragraph 7
  156. Schedule 5REPEALS