Article 27 Acting as agent for unqualified personC1

Where—

(a)

a complaint is made to the Lord Chief Justice that a solicitor has wilfully and knowingly—

(i)

acted as agent in any action, suit, matter or transaction for any unqualified person; or

(ii)

permitted his name to be in any way made use of in any action, suit, matter or transaction upon the account, or for the profit, of any unqualified person; or

(iii)

sent any process to an unqualified person; or

(iv)

done any other act so as to enable an unqualified person to appear, act or practise in any respect, as a solicitor in any action, suit, matter or transaction; and

(b)

the matter of the complaint is proved to the satisfaction of the Lord Chief Justice;

then the Lord Chief Justice may impose upon the solicitor a fine not exceedingF2 £1,000 and, in addition to or instead of imposing a fine, may suspend the solicitor from practising as such during such time as to the Lord Chief Justice may seem fit, or may order the name of the solicitor to be struck off the roll.

(2)

Upon complaint and proof being made under paragraph (1) the Lord Chief Justice may commit an unqualified person so appearing, acting or practising as aforesaid to prison, for any term not exceeding one year.

(3)

This Article shall not apply where the solicitor is acting by virtue of an appointment made pursuant to Article 32.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: SI 1978/1910
F2: 1989 NI 14

Modifications

C1: Art. 27 applied (1.4.2025) by The Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) (Extension to Switzerland etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (S.R. 2025/70), regs. 1, 5(2)(c)
C2: Art. 27(1) applied ( with modifications) (1.4.2025) by The Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) (Extension to Switzerland etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (S.R. 2025/70), regs. 1, 5(4)