Legal Services Act 2007

14 For section 13 (appeals in connection with issue of practising certificates) substitute—

“13 Appeals etc in connection with the issue of practising certificates

(1) A person who makes an application under section 9 may appeal to the High Court against—

(a) a decision to refuse the application for a practising certificate,

(b) if the application included an application for a sole solicitor endorsement, a decision to refuse the application for the endorsement, or

(c) a decision to impose a condition on a practising certificate issued in consequence of the application.

(2) A person who holds a practising certificate subject to a condition within section 10(4)(b) may appeal to the High Court against any decision by the Society to refuse to approve the taking of any step for the purposes of that condition.

(3) The Society may make rules which provide, as respects any application under section 9 that is neither granted nor refused by the Society within such period as may be specified in the rules, for enabling an appeal to be brought under this section in relation to the application as if it had been refused by the Society.

(4) On an appeal under subsection (1), the High Court may—

(a) affirm the decision of the Society,

(b) direct the Society to make a sole solicitor endorsement on the applicant’s practising certificate and to issue that certificate subject to such conditions (if any) as the High Court may think fit,

(c) direct the Society to issue a certificate to the applicant free from conditions or subject to such conditions as the High Court may think fit,

(d) direct the Society not to issue a certificate,

(e) if a certificate has been issued, by order suspend it,

(f) if the certificate has been endorsed with a sole solicitor endorsement, by order suspend the endorsement, or

(g) make such other order as the High Court thinks fit.

(5) On an appeal under subsection (2), the High Court may—

(a) affirm the decision of the Society,

(b) direct the Society to approve the taking of one or more steps for the purposes of a condition within section 10(4)(b), or

(c) make such other order as the High Court thinks fit.

(6) In relation to an appeal under this section the High Court may make such order as it thinks fit as to payment of costs.

(7) The decision of the High Court on an appeal under subsection (1) or (2) shall be final.”