Legal Complaints and Regulation Act (Northern Ireland) 2016

Interpretation

Recognised bodies

48.—(1) References in this Part to a recognised body are references to a body corporate for the time being recognised under Article 26A of the 1976 Order.

(2) References in this Part to a recognised body in relation to a complaint include references to a body corporate that was recognised under Article 26A of the 1976 Order at the time when the conduct to which the complaint relates took place.

(3) In this Part (except in section 38(10))—

(a) any reference to a solicitor shall be construed as including a reference to a recognised body; and

(b) any reference to professional services provided by a solicitor shall be construed as including a reference to professional services provided by a recognised body.

(4) The powers conferred on the Solicitors Complaints Committee by section 38(2)(b) shall be exercisable in relation to a body corporate in accordance with this section notwithstanding that it is no longer a recognised body.

Interpretation of Part 3

49.  In this Part—

“complainant”, in relation to a complaint, means the person who makes the complaint;

“party”, in relation to a complaint, means—

(a)

the complainant;

(b)

the respondent;

(c)

any other person who, in accordance with rules made under section 36(1), is to be regarded as a party to the complaint;

“respondent”, in relation to a complaint, is to be construed in accordance with section 31.