Administration of Justice Act 1985

24 Preliminary investigation of disciplinary cases

(1) The Council shall establish a committee, to be known as the Investigating Committee, for the preliminary investigation of cases in which—

(a) it is alleged that a licensed conveyancer—

(i) has (whether while a licensed conveyancer or not) been convicted by any court in the United Kingdom of a criminal offence which renders him unfit to practise as a licensed conveyancer ; or

(ii) has, while holding a licence in force under this Part, failed to comply with any condition to which that licence was subject; or

(iii) has failed to comply with any rules made by the Council under this Part; or

(b) a complaint is made to the Council by or on behalf of a member of the public about a licensed conveyancer,

with a view to determining whether such cases ought to be referred by the Committee to the Discipline and Appeals Committee established under the following section for hearing and determination by that Committee under section 26.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b) a complaint about a person who at the time when the conduct to which the complaint relates took place was an employee or associate of a licensed conveyancer shall be treated as a complaint about the licensed conveyancer.

(3) Any reference in subsection (1) or (2) to a licensed conveyancer in relation to any such allegation or complaint as is mentioned in paragraph (a)(ii) or (iii) or paragraph (b) of subsection (1) includes a reference to a person who was a licensed conveyancer at the time when the conduct to which the allegation or complaint relates took place.

(4) The Council shall make rules as to the constitution of the Investigating Committee and any such rules may provide for the appointment to the Committee of persons (whether licensed conveyancers or not) who are not members of the Council.

(5) Where it appears to the Investigating Committee—

(a) that any such allegation or complaint as is mentioned in subsection (1) ought to be referred to the Discipline and Appeals Committee for hearing and determination by that Committee under section 26 ; and

(b) that it is necessary for the protection of consumers to do so,

the Investigating Committee may, if they think fit, direct that any licence held by the licensed conveyancer in question shall be suspended until the allegation or complaint is determined by the Discipline and Appeals Committee or until the expiration of such period as may be prescribed by rules made by the Council, whichever is the earlier.