Administration of Justice Act 1985

3 Powers of lay observers and Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in relation to inadequate professional services

(1) After section 45(5) of the [1974 c. 47.] Solicitors Act 1974 (investigation by lay observers of Law Society's treatment of complaints) there shall be inserted—

“(5A) Where it appears to a lay observer, in examining any such allegation as is mentioned in subsection (1)—

(a) that there arises out of the complaint in respect of which the allegation has been made both—

(i) a question as to the professional conduct of a solicitor, and

(ii) a question as to the quality of any professional services provided by him ; and

(b) that it would be appropriate for the latter question to be considered by the Tribunal with a view to determining whether to exercise any of its powers under section 47A in relation to the solicitor,

the lay observer may make an application to the Tribunal with respect to the solicitor.”.

(2) After section 47 of that Act there shall be inserted—

“47A Power of Tribunal to impose sanctions for inadequate professional services.

(1) The powers conferred on the Tribunal by this section shall be exercisable on the hearing of—

(a) any application or complaint made to the Tribunal under this Act by or on behalf of the Society; or

(b) any application made to the Tribunal under section 45 (5A) by a lay observer.

(2) Where, on the hearing of any such application or complaint with respect to a solicitor, it appears to the Tribunal that the professional services provided by the 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 (4)), the Tribunal may, if it thinks 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 its determination and by order direct the solicitor to comply, or to secure compliance, with such one or more requirements falling within subsection (3) as appear to it to be necessary in order to give effect to its determination;

(b) by order 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 it may specify;

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

(3) The requirements referred to in subsection (2)(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.

(4) The Tribunal shall not exercise any of its powers under this section unless it is 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 Tribunal 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.

(5) Where the Tribunal has given a direction under subsection (2) (a) in order to give effect to a determination by it 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 Tribunal'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 Tribunal's determination.

(6) Where a bill covering those costs has been taxed in accordance with subsection (5)(a), the Tribunal's direction under subsection (2) (a) shall, so far as relating to those costs, cease to have effect.

(7) In subsections (2)(c) and (4) (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.”.