{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/solicitors-act-1974/section-38",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/solicitors-act-1974/section-38.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1974/47",
  "legislation_title": "Solicitors Act 1974",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/solicitors-act-1974",
  "path": "section/38",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "38",
  "heading": "Solicitor who is justice of the peace not to act in certain proceedings.",
  "text": "(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, it shall not be lawful for any solicitor who is one of the justices of the peace assigned to any local justice area, or for any partner of his, to act in connection with proceedings before any justice of the peace acting in that area as solicitor or agent for the solicitor of any person concerned in those proceedings.\n(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(3A) Subsection (1) does not apply where a solicitor is a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts); but where a solicitor is acting as a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) in any local justice area it shall not be lawful for him, or for any partner of his, to act in connection with proceedings before any justice of the peace acting in that area as solicitor or agent for the solicitor of any person concerned in those proceedings.\n(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 38(1) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 176(2); S.I. 2005/910, art. 3"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 38(2)(3) repealed (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1)(3), 110, Sch. 8 para. 176(3), Sch. 10; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 38(3A) inserted (31.8.2000) by 1999 c. 22, s. 78, Sch. 11 para. 23 (with Sch. 14 para. 7(2)); S.I. 2000/1920, art. 3"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 38(3A) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 176(4)(a); S.I. 2005/910, art. 3"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 38(3A) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 176(4)(b); S.I. 2005/910, art. 3"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 38(4) repealed (27.9.1999) by 1999 c. 22, ss. 106, 108(3)(f), Sch. 15 Pt. V(1) (with Sch. 14 paras. 7(2), 36(9))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 38 extended (with modifications) (1.7.2009) by S.I. 2000/1119, Sch. 4 para. 7(2) Table (as amended by The Legal Services Act 2007 (Registered European Lawyers) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1587), art. 3(7)(c))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 38 modified (1.1.1992) by Administration of Justice Act 1985 (c.61,SIF 34), s. 9, Sch.2 para.7; S.I. 1991/2683, art. 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/47/section/38",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:43:05.522324+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}