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PART 8 N.I.SOLICITORS' RIGHTS OF AUDIENCE

Prospective

Authorisation of Society conferring additional rights of audienceN.I.

88—(1) The Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (NI 12) is amended as follows.

(2) In Article 6 (regulations as to the education, training, etc. of persons seeking admission or having been admitted as solicitors) after paragraph (1) insert—

(1A) The Society shall make regulations with respect to the education, training or experience to be undergone by solicitors seeking authorisation under Article 9A..

(3) After Article 9 insert—

Authorisation of Society conferring additional rights of audience

9A(1) A person who is qualified to act as a solicitor may apply to the Society for an authorisation under this Article.

(2) An application under paragraph (1)—

(a)shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed;

(b)shall be accompanied by such information as the Society may reasonably require for the purpose of determining the application; and

(c)shall be accompanied by such fee (if any) as may be prescribed.

(3) At any time after receiving the application and before determining it the Society may require the applicant to provide it with further information.

(4) The Society shall grant an authorisation under this Article if it appears to the Society, from the information furnished by the applicant and any other information it may have, that the applicant has complied with the requirements applicable to him by virtue of regulations under Article 6(1A).

(5) An authorisation granted to a person under this Article ceases to have effect if, and for so long as, that person is not qualified to act as a solicitor.

(6) The Society may by regulations provide that any person who has completed such education, training or experience as may be prescribed, before such date as may be prescribed shall be taken to hold an authorisation granted under this Article..

(4) In Article 10 (practising certificates and register of practising solicitors) after paragraph (2C) insert—

(2D) Every entry in the register shall include details of any authorisation granted under Article 9A to the solicitor to whom the entry relates..