Solicitors Act 1974

3Admission as solicitor

(1)Subject to section 4 and to section 20(3) of the [1949 c. 101.] Justices of the Peace Act 1949 (which relates to the admission as solicitors of certain persons who have served as assistant to a justices' clerk), no person shall be admitted as a solicitor unless he has obtained a certificate from the Society that the Society—

(a)is satisfied that he has complied with training regulations, and

(b)is satisfied as to his character and his suitability to be a solicitor.

(2)Any person who has obtained a certificate that the Society is satisfied as mentioned in subsection (1) may apply to the Master of the Rolls to be admitted as a solicitor; and if any such person so applies, the Master of the Rolls, or a judge appointed under subsection (3) to act on his behalf for the time being, shall, unless cause to the contrary is shown to his satisfaction, in writing, and in such manner and form as the Master of the Rolls may from time to time think fit, admit that person to be a solicitor.

(3)The Master of the Rolls may in writing appoint any judge of the High Court to act on his behalf for the purpose of admitting persons to be solicitors under subsection (2).