Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 No. 582 (NI. 12)

PART II N.I. QUALIFICATION, ADMISSION, PRACTISING CERTIFICATES, ETC.

Provisions with respect to unqualified persons acting as solicitors N.I.

Preparation of papers for probate, etc. N.I.

24.—(1)  [F1 Subject to paragraph (1A), any unqualified person, not being a barrister-at-law or a duly certificated notary public, who, directly or indirectly, draws or prepares any papers on which to found or oppose—

(a) a grant of probate, or

(b) a grant of letters of administration,]

shall, unless he proves that the act was not done for or in expectation of any fee, gain or reward, be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding[F2 level 4 on the standard scale].

[F1 (1A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any act done by a person at the direction and under the supervision of another person if—

(a) that other person was at the time his employer, a partner of his employer or a fellow employee; and

(b) the act could have been done by that other person for or in expectation of any fee, gain or reward without committing an offence under this Article.]

(2) Any penalty which may be imposed under paragraph (1) shall be in addition to and not in substitution for any penalty, liability or disability to which the unqualified person may be subject under any other provision of this Order or any other enactment.

F1 1989 NI 14

F2 1984 NI 3