Administration of Justice Act 1985

1 Imposition by Council of Law Society of disciplinary sanctions for inadequate professional services

After section 44 of the [1974 c. 47.] Solicitors Act 1974 there shall be inserted—

“Imposition by Council of disciplinary sanctions for inadequate professional services

44A Power of Council to impose sanctions for inadequate professional services.

(1) Where it appears to the Council that the professional services provided by a solicitor in connection with any matter in which he or his firm had been instructed by a client were in any respect not of the quality that could reasonably have been expected of him as a solicitor, then (subject to subsection (3)), the Council may, if they think fit, do one or more of the following things, namely—

(a) determine that the costs to which the solicitor shall be entitled in respect of those services shall be limited to such amount as may be specified in their determination and direct the solicitor to comply, or to secure compliance, with such one or more requirements falling within subsection (2) as appear to them to be necessary in order to give effect to their determination;

(b) direct the solicitor to secure the rectification, at the expense of the solicitor or his firm, of any such error, omission or other deficiency arising in connection with the said matter as they may specify;

(c) direct the solicitor to take, at the expense of the solicitor or his firm, such other action in the interests of the client as they may specify.

(2) The requirements referred to in subsection (1)(a) are—

(a) a requirement to refund the whole or part of any amount already paid by or on behalf of the client in respect of the solicitor's costs in respect of his services in connection with the said matter ;

(b) a requirement to remit the whole or part of those costs;

(c) a requirement to waive, whether wholly or to any specified extent, the right to recover those costs.

(3) The Council shall not exercise any of their powers under subsection (1) unless they are satisfied that it would in all the circumstances be appropriate to do so; and in determining whether in any case it would be appropriate to exercise any of those powers the Council may have regard—

(a) to the existence of any remedy that could reasonably be expected to be available to the client in civil proceedings ; and

(b) where proceedings seeking any such remedy have not been commenced by him, to whether it would be reasonable to expect him to commence such proceedings.

(4) Where the Council have given a direction under subsection (1)(a) in order to give effect to a determination by them under that provision as to the costs of a solicitor in respect of any services provided by him, then—

(a) for the purposes of any taxation of a bill covering those costs the amount charged by the bill in respect of those costs shall be deemed to be limited to the amount specified in the Council's determination; and

(b) where a bill covering those costs has not been taxed in accordance with paragraph (a), the client shall, for the purposes of the recovery of those costs (by whatever means) and notwithstanding any statutory provision or agreement, be deemed to be liable to pay in respect of those costs only the amount specified in the Council's determination.

(5) Where a bill covering those costs has been taxed in accordance with subsection (4)(a), the Council's direction under subsection (1)(a) shall, so far as relating to those costs, cease to have effect.

(6) If a solicitor fails to comply with a direction given by the Council under this section, any person may make a complaint in respect of that failure to the Tribunal; but no other proceedings whatever shall be brought in respect of it.

(7) On the hearing of a complaint under subsection (6) relating to a direction given by the Council the Tribunal may, if it thinks fit (whether or not it makes any order on the hearing under section 47(2)), direct that the Council's direction shall be treated, for the purpose of enforcement, as if it were contained in an order made by the High Court.

(8) The powers conferred on the Council by subsection (1)(a) shall be exercisable in relation to a person notwithstanding that his name has been removed from or struck off the roll, and references to a solicitor—

(a) in the provisions of this section so far as they relate to the exercise of those powers ; and

(b) if a complaint is made to the Tribunal under subsection (6), in section 47(2),

shall be construed accordingly.

(9) In subsection (1)(c) and (3)(a) " client", in relation to any matter in which a solicitor or his firm has been instructed, includes any person on whose behalf the person who gave the instructions was acting.”.