Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978

107 Qualification for holding office of solicitors who have been barristers and vice versa. U.K.

(1) For the purpose of any statutory provision or custom whereby the qualification of a solicitor for holding any office in Northern Ireland depends upon—

(a) his having been admitted for a specified period; or

(b) his having been admitted and in practice for a specified period,

that period, in the case of a solicitor who before admission was a barrister, shall be deemed to include—

(i) where paragraph (a) applies, any period during which he was a barrister; and

(ii) where paragraph (b) applies, any period after his call to the bar during which he was in practice as a barrister.

(2) For the purpose of any statutory provision or custom whereby the qualification of a barrister for holding any office in Northern Ireland depends upon—

(a) his having been called to the bar for a specified period; or

(b) his having been called to the bar and in practice for a specified period,

that period, in the case of a barrister who before call was a solicitor, shall be deemed to include—

(i) where paragraph (a) applies, any period during which he was a solicitor; and

(ii) where paragraph (b) applies, any period after his admission as a solicitor during which he was in practice as such.

(3) This section applies—

(a) to this Act and to any other statutory provision whether passed or made before or after this Act; and

(b) in relation to persons admitted as solicitors or called to the bar before, as well as after, the passing of this Act.