Legal Services Regulation Act 2015

Transitional provisions in relation to barristers

92. (1) Where, on or after the date on which this subsection comes into operation, the Benchers of the Honorable Society of King’s Inns disbar a person for an act or omission of the person that occurred before that date, the Honorable Society of King’s Inns shall notify the Authority of the disbarment, which notification shall be accompanied by a report of the act or omission concerned.

(2) The Authority, on receipt of a notification and report under subsection (1), shall examine the report and, where it considers that the act or omission of the person constitutes misconduct, shall make an application to the High Court for the making by it of an order under this section.

(3) An application under subsection (2) shall be on notice to the person concerned and the Honorable Society of King’s Inns.

(4) The High Court, on an application under subsection (2), having considered the report under subsection (1) and given the Authority, the persons concerned and the Honorable Society of King’s Inns an opportunity to appear and to make submissions in connection with the application, decide whether to impose a sanction on the person.

(5) The Court, under this subsection, may by order direct one or more than one of the following:

(a) that the person be restricted as to the type of work which he or she may engage in, for such period as the Court considers appropriate and subject to such terms and conditions as the Court considers appropriate;

(b) that the person be suspended from practice as a barrister for a specified period and subject to such terms and conditions as the Court considers appropriate;

(c) that the Authority, in accordance with Part 9, strike the name of the person off the roll of practising barristers and inform the Chief Justice and the Honorable Society of King’s Inns of the fact.