Part IILegal Services

Rights of audience and rights to conduct litigation

29Authorised bodies: designation and approval of regulations and rules

(1)In order to be designated as an authorised body for the purposes of section 27 or 28 a professional or other body must—

(a)apply to the Lord Chancellor under this section, specifying the purposes for which it is seeking authorisation; and

(b)comply with the provisions of Part I of Schedule 4 as to the approval of qualification regulations and rules of conduct and other matters.

(2)Where—

(a)an application has been made to the Lord Chancellor under this section;

(b)the requirements of Part I of Schedule 4 have been satisfied; and

(c)the application has not failed,

the Lord Chancellor may recommend to Her Majesty that an Order in Council be made designating that body as an authorised body for the purposes of section 27 or (as the case may be) section 28.

(3)Where an authorised body alters—

(a)any of its qualification regulations; or

(b)any of its rules of conduct,

those alterations shall not have effect, so far as they relate to any right of audience or any right to conduct litigation granted by that body, unless they have been approved under Part II of Schedule 4.

(4)Where an authorised body makes any alteration to the rights of audience or rights to conduct litigation granted by it (including the grant of a new right), the qualification regulations and rules of conduct of that body must be approved under Part II of Schedule 4.

(5)Where the Lord Chancellor or any of the designated judges considers that it might be appropriate for an authorised body to alter—

(a)any of its qualification regulations or rules of conduct; or

(b)any right of audience, or right to conduct litigation, which it is entitled to grant,

he may advise that body accordingly.

(6)Where—

(a)the Lord Chancellor gives any advice under subsection (5), he shall inform the designated judges; and

(b)where a designated judge gives any such advice, he shall inform the Lord Chancellor and the other designated judges.

(7)Where an authorised body has been given any such advice it shall, in the light of that advice, consider whether to make the recommended alteration.