Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

Membership of the Commission

4.—(1) The Commission shall consist of—

(a) a member who is to chair it, and

(b) not fewer than six, nor more than ten, other members,

but the Lord Chancellor may by order substitute for either or both of the numbers for the time being specified in sub-paragraph (b) such other number or numbers as he thinks appropriate.

(2) Both the member who is to chair the Commission, and the other members, shall be appointed by the Lord Chancellor.

(3) In appointing persons to be members of the Commission the Lord Chancellor shall have regard to the desirability of securing that the Commission includes members who (between them) have experience in or knowledge of—

(a) the provision of services which the Commission can fund as civil legal services or criminal defence services,

(b) the work of the courts,

(c) consumer affairs,

(d) social conditions, and

(e) management.

(4) The Lord Chancellor may by order amend paragraph (3) by adding, omitting or substituting areas of experience or knowledge.

(5) In making appointments under this Article, the Lord Chancellor shall as far as practicable secure that the members of the Commission, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland.