Solicitors Act 1974

Disciplinary proceedings—general

54 Restrictions on powers to strike names off roll

(1) No solicitor shall be liable to have his name struck off the roll on account of any failure to comply with the requirements with respect to service under articles of any training regulations or on account of any defect in his admission and enrolment, unless—

(a) the application to strike his name off the roll is made within twelve months of the date of his enrolment; or

(b) fraud is proved to have been committed in connection with the failure or defect.

(2) No solicitor shall be liable to have his name struck off the roll by reason only—

(a) that a solicitor whom he has served for the whole or any part of the term of articled service required in his case by training regulations has neglected or omitted to take out a practising certificate ; or

(b) that the name of a solicitor whom he has served for any period has after the termination of that period been removed from or struck off the roll.

55 Applications to require solicitor to answer allegations

For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that an application by any person to require a solicitor to answer allegations contained in an affidavit, whether that application is made to the Tribunal or to the High Court, may be treated as an application to strike the name of that solicitor off the roll on the grounds of the matters alleged.