The Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) Rules 2019

Agreed Outcome Proposals

25.—(1) The parties may up to 28 days before the substantive hearing of an application (unless the Tribunal directs otherwise) submit to the Tribunal an Agreed Outcome Proposal for approval by the Tribunal.

(2) An Agreed Outcome Proposal must—

(a) contain a statement of the facts that are agreed between the relevant parties;

(b) set out the agreed proposed penalty and an explanation as to why the penalty would be in accordance with any guidance published by the Tribunal on sanctions imposed by the Tribunal;

(c) be signed by the relevant parties; and

(d) comply with any relevant practice direction made by the Tribunal in respect of Agreed Outcome Proposals.

(3) If the Tribunal approves the Agreed Outcome Proposal in the terms proposed it must make an Order in those terms. The case must be called into an open hearing and the Tribunal must announce its decision.

(4) If the Tribunal wishes to hear from the parties before making its decision the Tribunal may direct that there be a case management hearing which the parties to the proposed Agreed Outcome Proposal must attend for the purpose of making submissions before a final decision is reached. The case management hearing must be heard in private.

(5) Where the Tribunal is not satisfied that it is appropriate to make an Order in accordance with paragraph (3) it must provide reasons to the parties who may then submit a revised proposal. If the Tribunal is satisfied with the revised proposal, it must make an Order in accordance with it.

(6) Some or all of the same members of the panel appointed in respect of the application may consider the initial Agreed Outcome Proposal, any submissions made at a case management hearing and any revised proposal but may not subsequently participate in the panel for the substantive hearing (if there is one).

(7) If on considering a submission under this rule the Tribunal decides not to make an Order in accordance with paragraph (3) it must make directions for the substantive disposal of the matter by a panel consisting of members who were not on the panel which considered the submission.

(8) If on considering a submission under this rule the Tribunal decides not to make an Order and the Tribunal does not publish that decision or announce it in an open hearing, no information will be published or announced about the submission save that the Agreed Outcome Proposal was not approved.