The Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) (Revision) 1980

Personal liability of solicitor for costs

8.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this rule, where in any proceedings costs are incurred improperly or without reasonable cause or are wasted by undue delay or by any other misconduct or default, the Court may make against any solicitor whom it considers to be responsible (whether personally or through a servant or agent) an order—

(a) disallowing the costs as between the solicitor and his client; and

(b) directing the solicitor to repay to his client costs which the client bas been ordered to pay to other parties to the proceedings; or

(c) directing the solicitor personally to indemnify such other parties against costs payable by them.

(2) No order under this rule shall be made against a solicitor unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity to appear before the Court and show cause why the order should not be made, except where any proceeding in court or in chambers cannot conveniently proceed, and fails or is adjourned without useful progress being made,—

(a) because of the failure of the solicitor to attend in person or by a proper representative; or

(b) because of the failure of the solicitor to deliver any document for the use of the Court which ought to have been delivered or to be prepared with any proper evidence or account or otherwise to proceed.

(3) Before making an order under this rule the Court may, if it thinks fit, refer the matter (except in the cases excepted from paragraph (2)) to the Taxing Master for inquiry and report and direct the solicitor in the first place to show cause before the Taxing Master.

(4) The Court may, if it thinks fit, direct or authorise the Official Solicitor to attend and take part in any proceedings or inquiry under this rule, and may make such order as it thinks fit as to the payment of his costs.

(5) The Court may direct that notice of any proceedings or order against a solicitor under this rule shall be given to his client in such manner as may be specified in the direction.

(6) Where in any proceedings before the Taxing Master the solicitor representing any party is guilty of neglect or delay or puts any other party to any unnecessary expense in relation to those proceedings, the Taxing Master may direct the solicitor to pay costs personally to any of the parties to those proceedings; and where any solicitor fails to leave his bill of costs (with the documents required by this Order) for taxation within the time fixed by or under this Order or otherwise delays or impedes the taxation, then, unless the Taxing Master otherwise directs, the solicitor shall not be allowed the fees to which he would otherwise be entitled for drawing the bill and for attending the taxation.

(7) If, on the taxation of costs to be paid out of a fund, other than the legal aid fund, one-sixth or more of the amount of the bill for those costs is taxed off, the solicitor whose bill it is shall not be allowed the fees to which he would otherwise be entitled for drawing his bill of costs and for attending the taxation.

(8) In any proceedings in which the party by whom the fees prescribed by the Orders as to Court fees are payable is represented by a solicitor, if the fees or any part of the fees payable under the said Orders are not paid as therein prescribed, the Court may, on the application of the official solicitor by summons, order the solicitor personally to pay that amount in the manner so prescribed and to pay the costs of the official solicitor of the application.