[F1(1)]Any F2. . . person (including a body corporate) who [F3, not having the relevant qualification,]either by himself or together with others, wilfully and falsely—
(a)pretends to be a solicitor or notary public; or
[F4(aa)pretends to be a registered European lawyer; or]
[F5(ab)pretends to be a registered foreign lawyer; or]
(b)takes or uses any name, title, addition or description implying that he is duly qualified to act as a solicitor or a notary public [F6[F7, registered European lawyer or registered foreign lawyer], as the case may be,] or recognised by law as so qualified;
shall be guilty of an offence.
[F9(2)Any person (including a body corporate) who either by himself or together with others, wilfully and falsely—
(a)pretends to be an incorporated practice;
(b)takes or uses any name, title, addition or description implying that he is an incorporated practice,
shall be guilty of an offence.
(3)F10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 31 renumbered as subsection (1) of that section by Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1985 (c. 73, SIF 76:2), s. 56, Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 8
F2Word in s. 31(1) repealed (22.5.2000) by S.S.I. 2000/121, regs. 1(1), 37(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(8)(a)
F3Words in s. 31(1) inserted (22.5.2000) by S.S.I. 2000/121, regs. 1(1), 37(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(8)(b)
F4S. 31(1)(aa) inserted (22.5.2000) by S.S.I. 2000/121, regs. 1(1), 37(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(8)(c)
F5S. 31(1)(ab) inserted (1.10.2004) by The Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 (Foreign Lawyers and Multi-national Practices) Regulations (S.S.I. 2004/383), {reg. 6(a)}
F6Words in s. 31(1)(b) inserted (22.5.2000) by S.S.I. 2000/121, regs. 1(1), 37(1), Sch. 1 para. 1(8)(d)
F7Words in s. 31(1)(b) substituted (1.10.2004) by The Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 (Foreign Lawyers and Multi-national Practices) Regulations (S.S.I. 2004/383), {reg. 6(b)}
F8Words inserted by Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1985 (c. 73, SIF 76:2), s. 56, Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 8(a)
F9S. 31(2)(3) inserted by Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1985 (c. 73, SIF 76:2), s. 56, Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 8(b)
F10S. 31(3) repealed (3.6.1991) by Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 (c. 40, SIF 76:2), s. 74, Sch. 9; S.I. 1991/1252, art. 3, Sch. 1
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C2S. 31 modified (31.10.1994) by 1994 c. 26, s. 86(2); S.I. 1994/2550, art. 2