# The Solicitors Act 1974 and Administration of Justice Act 1985 (Amendment) Order 2022

S.I. 2022/701 · made 23 June 2022

This Order amends section 44D of the Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47) (“the 1974 Act”) and paragraph 14B of Schedule 2 to the Administration of Justice Act 1985 (c. 61) (“the 1985 Act”) to increase the maximum penalty that the Law Society may direct a person to pay from £2,000 to £25,000. Under section 44D of the 1974 Act, the Law Society may impose a penalty on a solicitor or an employee of a solicitor where that person has failed to comply with requirements or rules, or there has been professional misconduct by a solicitor. Under paragraph 14B of Schedule 2 to the 1985 Act, the Law Society may impose a penalty on a recognised body, or a manager or employee of a recognised body, or on a sole solicitor, or any employee in a recognised sole solicitor’s practice, where they have failed to comply with requirements or rules applicable to them.

Made under: Solicitors Act 1974 (Section 44D); Administration of Justice Act 1985 (Schedule 2 paragraph 14B)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/solicitors-act-1974-and-administration-of-justice-act-1985-amendment-order-2022/pdf/uksi_20220701_en.pdf; UK Explanatory Memorandum https://openlegislation.uk/solicitors-act-1974-and-administration-of-justice-act-1985-amendment-order-2022/pdf/uksiem_20220701_en.pdf

## Introductory text

Legal Services, England And Wales
Made 23rd June 2022
Laid before Parliament 29th June 2022
Coming into force 20th July 2022
The Lord Chancellor makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 44D(10) of the Solicitors Act 1974 and paragraph 14B(10) of Schedule 2 to the Administration of Justice Act 1985.
In accordance with section 44D(11) of the Solicitors Act 1974 and paragraph 14B(11) of Schedule 2 to the Administration of Justice Act 1985, the Lord Chancellor has consulted the Society.

## 1 Citation, commencement and extent

(1) This Order may be cited as the Solicitors Act 1974 and Administration of Justice Act 1985 (Amendment) Order 2022 and comes into force on 20th July 2022.
(2) This Order extends to England and Wales.

## 2 Amendment to the Solicitors Act 1974

In section 44D(2)(b) of the Solicitors Act 1974 (disciplinary powers of the Society), for “£2,000” substitute “£25,000”.

## 3 Amendment to the Administration of Justice Act 1985

In paragraph 14B(2)(b) of Schedule 2 to the Administration of Justice Act 1985 (disciplinary powers of the Society), for “£2,000” substitute “£25,000”.

## Signature

Dominic Raab
Lord Chancellor
Ministry of Justice
23rd June 2022

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order amends section 44D of the Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47) (“the 1974 Act”) and paragraph 14B of Schedule 2 to the Administration of Justice Act 1985 (c. 61) (“the 1985 Act”) to increase the maximum penalty that the Law Society may direct a person to pay from £2,000 to £25,000. Under section 44D of the 1974 Act, the Law Society may impose a penalty on a solicitor or an employee of a solicitor where that person has failed to comply with requirements or rules, or there has been professional misconduct by a solicitor. Under paragraph 14B of Schedule 2 to the 1985 Act, the Law Society may impose a penalty on a recognised body, or a manager or employee of a recognised body, or on a sole solicitor, or any employee in a recognised sole solicitor’s practice, where they have failed to comply with requirements or rules applicable to them.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact or no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/701 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/solicitors-act-1974-and-administration-of-justice-act-1985-amendment-order-2022
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.