[F1SecrecyN.I.
24.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), information furnished for the purposes of this Part to the Law Society, or to any committee or person on their behalf, in connection with the case of a person seeking or receiving legal aid, advice or assistance shall not be disclosed otherwise than—
(a)for the purpose of facilitating the proper performance by any committee, court, tribunal or other person or body of persons of functions under this Part; or
(b)for the purpose of any criminal proceedings for an offence thereunder or of any report of such proceedings[F2 or]
[F2(c)for the purpose of facilitating the proper performance by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal of its functions under the Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 in respect of a complaint made to it under Article 44(1)(g) of that Order or in connection with the making of an order under Article 51B(1) or (3) of that Order.]
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not prevent the disclosure of information for any purpose with the consent of the person in connection with whose case the information was furnished and, where he did not furnish the information himself, with that of the person or body of persons who did furnish the information.
(3) A person who, in contravention of this Article, discloses any information obtained by him when employed by or acting on behalf of the Law Society shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding[F3 level 5 on the standard scale].
(4) Proceedings for an offence under this Article shall not be brought except by or with the consent of the Attorney General.
(5) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that information furnished to counsel or a solicitor as such by or on behalf of a person seeking or receiving legal aid, advice or assistance is not information furnished to the Law Society or a person on their behalf.]
F1 Pt. 2 (to the extent that it remains in operation) repealed (1.4.2015) by Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/435), arts. 1(2), 49(5), Sch. 5 (with transitional provisions and savings in art. 48, Sch. 3); S.R. 2015/194, art. 2, Sch. (with transitional provisions and savings in art. 3)