PART IIIPROFESSIONAL PRACTICE, CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE
Disciplinary proceedings before the Disciplinary Committee
F1The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal43
1
The Lord Chief Justice, after consultation with the Council, shall appoint a tribunal, to be known as the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and consisting of—
a
practising solicitors of not less than 10 years' standing (solicitor members); and
b
persons who are neither solicitors nor members of the Bar of Northern Ireland (lay members).
2
The members of the Tribunal shall elect one of the solicitor members to be the president of the Tribunal.
3
The Department of Finance and Personnel shall pay to lay members such remuneration and other allowances (if any) as that Department may determine.
4
The Lord Chief Justice, after consultation with the Council, may remove a member of, and may fill a vacancy in, the Tribunal.
5
The Tribunal may, subject to paragraph (6), act notwithstanding one or more than one vacancy in their membership and any application or complaint made to, or other matter dealt with by or before, the Tribunal may be dealt with or disposed of notwithstanding any change in the membership of the Tribunal.
6
For the purpose of hearing and determining applications and complaints the Tribunal shall be properly constituted if—
a
at least 3 members are present; and
b
at least 1 lay member is present; and
c
the number of solicitor members present exceeds the number of lay members present; and
d
the president or another solicitor member presides.
7
Subject to the provisions of this Order and of any rules made under paragraph (8), the Tribunal may regulate their procedure in such manner as they may think fit.
8
The Tribunal may, with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice, make rules regulating applications and complaints to the Tribunal and the hearing, conduct and determination of such applications and complaints and of inquiries held by the Tribunal.
9
Without prejudice to the powers of the Tribunal under Article 51(1)(j) and (k), rules under paragraph (8) may make provision for the payment by any party to an application or complaint made to the Tribunal of the costs, or a contribution towards the costs, incurred by any other party or by the Tribunal in connection with that application or complaint.
10
The Tribunal may appoint a secretary, who shall be a member of the Society but shall not be a member of the Tribunal.
11
Except as provided by paragraph (3), the Society shall defray the costs incurred by the Tribunal, which shall include the amount of any remuneration which the Society may agree to pay to the person appointed as secretary.