UK Act of Parliament 1976 c. 582 United Kingdom

Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976

Read the Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Status
In Force
Penalty ceiling
Prosecution 1 of 23 obligations carry a fine up to £2,500. 22 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Any Person9 Trader1

Plus 13 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.

Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts
Trader — also bound by 825 other Acts
Companies Act 2006 243 duties
Companies Act 1985 85 duties

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

sch. 2 sch. 2 Regulated
  • Pay annual contribution to the Compensation Fund when renewing your practising certificateAny Person
s.art005 Admission of solicitors Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Law Society must assess applicants and issue admission certificates to qualified solicitorsStatutory regulator
s.art007 Registrar Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Law Society of Northern Ireland must appoint a registrar of solicitorsStatutory regulator
s.art008 Keeping and custody of the roll Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Society must keep the roll of solicitors and allow public inspectionStatutory regulator
s.art011 Issue, date and expiry of practising certificate Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Registrar must issue practising certificate to eligible solicitorsStatutory regulator
s.art017 Publication of suspension or termination of suspension of practising certificate Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Society must publish suspension notices in the Belfast Gazette and update the rollStatutory regulator
s.art026 Penalty for pretending to be a body recognised under Article 26A Regulated
  • Do not falsely claim recognition under Article 26AAny Person
s.art033 Regulations as to keeping of accounts by solicitors Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Law Society of Northern Ireland must make solicitor account regulationsStatutory regulator
s.art035 Accountants' reports Regulated
  • Deliver an annual accountant's report to the Law SocietyAny Person
s.art040 Duty to advise client as to representation in court Regulated
  • Advise client in writing of representation options in High Court/Court of AppealAny Person
s.art044 Applications and complaints to Tribunal Regulated
  • File written applications and complaints to the Solicitors Disciplinary TribunalAny Person
s.art051 Orders of Tribunal on inquiry Prosecution
  • Practise as sole solicitor while barred or restrictedAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.art055 The Compensation Fund Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Law Society must establish and run the Compensation FundStatutory regulator
s.art058 Provisions as to grants in case of loss or hardship Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Society must not make a grant unless solicitor notified and given chance to explainStatutory regulator
s.art060 Provisions as to subvention grants Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Society must not make subvention grant for partner's act without notice to partnerStatutory regulator
s.art071 Orders as to remuneration of solicitors for non‐contentious business Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Committee must consult before setting solicitors' fees for non-contentious businessStatutory regulator
s.art075 Regulations and rules Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Society must consult Commissioner and obtain Lord Chief Justice's concurrence before making regulationsStatutory regulator
s.art077 Relief to banks Regulated
  • Banks and building societies are protected from liability for solicitor account transactionsTrader
88 other provisions — procedural and definitional
s.art001 Title
s.art003 Interpretation
s.art004 Qualifications for practising as solicitor
s.art006 Regulations as to the education, training,
s.art009 Entry of name on roll
s.art009 Authorisation of Society conferring additional rights of audience
s.art010 Application for practising certificate and register of practising solicitors
s.art012 Absence of solicitor from Northern Ireland
s.art013 Discretion of registrar to refuse certificate in special cases
s.art014 Appeals in connection with issue of practising certificates
s.art014 Imposition of terms and conditions on current and subsequent practising certificates
s.art015 Suspension of practising certificate
s.art016 Duration of suspension of practising certificate
s.art017 Application for issue of practising certificate freed from terms and conditions
s.art017 Terms and conditions in practising certificates
s.art018 Evidence of holding or not holding practising certificate
s.art019 Unqualified person not to act as solicitor
s.art020 Practising without certificate
s.art021 Solicitor practising while bankrupt
s.art021 Solicitor practising whilst subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order or subject to a debt relief restrictions order
s.art021 Solicitor practising within the moratorium period which follows the making of a debt relief order
s.art022 Penalty for pretending to be a solicitor
s.art023 Unqualified person not to prepare certain instruments, etc.
s.art024 Preparation of papers for probate, etc.
s.art025 Costs not recoverable where unqualified person acts as solicitor
s.art026 General power to make regulations as to professional practice, conduct and discipline of solicitors
s.art026 Incorporated practices
s.art027 Acting as agent for unqualified person
s.art028 Sharing of profits or fees with unqualified persons
s.art029 Employment by solicitor of persons whose names have been struck off the roll, etc.
s.art030 Failure to disclose fact of name having being struck off the roll, etc.
s.art031 Provisions as to clerk or apprentice found guilty of offences or party to misconduct of solicitor
s.art032 Winding-up practice of a deceased solicitor
s.art034 Interest on clients' money
s.art036 Powers of Council to deal with property in control of certain solicitors and other persons
s.art037 Power of Council to deal with property of solicitors removed from or struck off the roll
s.art038 Solicitors guilty of undue delay in certain matters
s.art039 Control of deceased solicitor's practice in certain circumstances
s.art040 On death of solicitor practising on his own account Society may deal with banking accounts of practice
s.art040 Duty to inform court as to compliance with Article 40A(2)
s.art041 Extension of Bankruptcy Acts, etc.
s.art041 Power of Council to impose sanctions for inadequate professional services
s.art041 Power of Society to examine files in connection with complaints
s.art042 Lay observers
s.art043 The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
s.art045 Procedure on application by solicitor or former solicitor
s.art046 Procedure on application or complaint against solicitor
s.art048 Powers of Tribunal on inquiry being held
s.art049 Representation before Tribunal
s.art050 Application of Bankers' Books Evidence Act 1879
s.art051 Power of Tribunal to impose sanctions for inadequate professional services
s.art051 Power of Tribunal in relation to legal aid
s.art051 Power of Tribunal to make recommendation for application of Schedule 1 to solicitor
s.art052 Effect, notice and recording of orders of Disciplinary Committee
s.art053 Appeals against orders of the Tribunal
s.art054 Publication, etc., of orders
s.art056 Grants in case of loss
s.art057 Grants in case of hardship
s.art059 Subvention grants
s.art061 Power to make regulations as to procedure
s.art062 Grants may be made whether or not solicitor had practising certificate
s.art063 Professional indemnity
s.art064 Contentious business agreements
s.art065 Effect of contentious business agreements
s.art066 Enforcement of contentious business agreements
s.art067 Contentious business agreements by certain representatives
s.art068 Effect on contentious business agreement of death, incapability or change of solicitor
s.art069 Security for costs and termination of retainer
s.art070 Taxations with respect to contentious business
s.art071 Non‐contentious business agreements
s.art071 Certain stipulations and restrictions on purchasers to be void
s.art071 Power of court to order solicitor to deliver bill
s.art071 Right to furnish bill in general terms
s.art071 Action to recover solicitors' costs
s.art071 Order for taxation
s.art071 Provisions as to taxation
s.art071 Charging orders
s.art072 Exercise of solicitors' lien on documents by Society
s.art073 Cessation and suspension of membership of Society, etc.
s.art073 Committees of the Council
s.art074 Powers to act on behalf of the Society and proof of resolutions
s.art076 Time limit for commencement of certain proceedings
s.art078 Administration of oaths and taking of affidavits
s.art081 Savings
s.art082 Repeals and transitional provisions
s.paragraph/p1 Art.2—Commencement
s.paragraph/p15 Art. 72 rep. by 1989 NI 14
s.paragraph/p18 Arts.79, 80 rep. by 1978 c.23
Schedules

Schedules

5 of 73 shown
s.sch001 (1) . . . the High Court, on the application of the Society, may order... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Court may redirect solicitor's mail on Society applicationTribunal / Court
s.sch001 Upon taking possession of any such documents, the Society shall serve upon the solicitor and... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Law Society must serve notice on solicitor and document holders after taking possessionStatutory regulator
s.sch001a (1) Where the recognition of a body corporate under Article 26A— (a) has been revoked... Regulated
  • Return client documents and money within 3 weeks if your firm's recognition endsAny Person
s.sch001a (1) On an application for recognition under Article 26A a body corporate shall pay to... Regulated
  • Pay a contribution to the Compensation Fund on recognition applicationAny Person
s.sch001a (1) No recognised body shall wilfully and knowingly (a) act as agent in any action,... Regulated
  • Do not assist unqualified persons to practise as a solicitorAny Person
68 other schedules
s.sch001 In this Schedule— Definition rep. by 1989 NI 14 “documents” means deeds, wills, documents constituting...
s.sch001 The Society may, on a resolution in that behalf made by the Council, take control...
s.sch001 Within fourteen days of the service of a notice under paragraph 10 the solicitor or...
s.sch001 Subject to the service of any notice under paragraph 10, and to any application that...
s.sch001 (1) If any person fails to comply with the requirements of any notice given under...
s.sch001 (1) If the Society have reason to suspect that any person holds any money on...
s.sch001 (1) If the solicitor is a trustee of a controlled trust, the Society may apply...
s.sch001 Subject to any order for the payment of costs that may be made on an...
s.sch001 The Society may do all things which in their opinion are necessary for the purpose...
s.sch001 The Society may apply to . . . the High Court for an order making...
s.sch001 (1) The Society may require the production or delivery to any person appointed by the...
s.sch001 If any claim or charge is made or any proceeding is taken against the Society...
s.sch001 The Society may make regulations for the purposes of carrying the provisions of this Schedule...
s.sch001 References in this Schedule to a banking or building society account include references to any...
s.sch001 (1) Without prejudice to paragraph 13(1)(b)(ii), the High Court may at any time, on the...
s.sch001 The powers exercisable pursuant to paragraph 22A(2) are as follows— (1) To operate all banking...
s.sch001 (1) If any person having possession or control of any such documents fails to comply...
s.sch001 Within fourteen days after the service of a notice under paragraph 4, the solicitor or...
s.sch001 If no application is made under paragraph 5 or if the judge to whom any...
s.sch001 At any time after a period of six years from the date on which the...
s.sch001 (1) The provisions of this Schedule shall have effect in relation to documents notwithstanding any...
s.sch001 (1) . . . the High Court may, on the application of the Society, order...
s.sch001a (1) Subject to sub‐paragraph (2), references in this Schedule to...
s.sch001a (1) Where regulations made under Article 33 and containing any such provision as is referred...
s.sch001a (1) In Article 35— (a) paragraphs (1) and (2); and (b) subject to any regulations...
s.sch001a (1) Where the Council have reasonable cause to believe and have passed a resolution stating...
s.sch001a Where— (a) a complaint is made to the Council that...
s.sch001a In connection with the application of Schedule 1 for the purposes of this Schedule, in...
s.sch001a (1) In Article 41A (except paragraphs (8) and (9))—
s.sch001a (1) Where the Council are satisfied that it is necessary...
s.sch001a (1) Paragraph (1)(b) of Article 42 shall apply in relation...
s.sch001a (1) The Tribunal shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any of the following complaints...
s.sch001a (1) A body corporate aggrieved by a decision of the Council refusing an application for...
s.sch001a In Article 46 any reference to a solicitor shall be construed as including a reference...
s.sch001a (1) Where on an inquiry into any complaint made to...
s.sch001a (1) The powers conferred on the Tribunal by Article 51A...
s.sch001a (1) Where the Tribunal makes any such order as is referred to in Article 51B(1)(a)...
s.sch001a (1) Where the Tribunal hold an inquiry into any application or complaint made under this...
s.sch001a (1) Where the Tribunal make an order—
s.sch001a (1) Where— (a) an order is made by the Lord Chief Justice under Article 20(1)...
s.sch001a (1) In the provisions to which this paragraph applies— (a) any reference to a solicitor...
s.sch001a A provision in a contentious or non-contentious business agreement made between a recognised body and...
s.sch001a Article 15(5) shall apply in relation to proceedings which have been brought with respect to...
s.sch001a (1) If, after some business has been done under a contentious business agreement made between...
s.sch001a Subject to the provisions of any rules of court or county court rules, on every...
s.sch001a In relation to an order under Article 71 regulating (in accordance with paragraph 28) the...
s.sch001a Any jurisdiction— (a) of the High Court to make any such orders as are referred...
s.sch001a Any jurisdiction of the High Court to make, in the case of a solicitor who...
s.sch001a Paragraph (2) of Article 71E shall have effect in relation to a bill of costs...
s.sch001a Article 72A shall apply in relation to a recognised body as it applies in relation...
s.sch001a Article 77 shall apply in relation to a recognised body as it applies in relation...
s.sch001a (1) Any communication made to or by a recognised body in the course of its...
s.sch001a In the following provisions, namely— (a) sections 56 and 66 of the Conveyancing Act 1881;...
s.sch001a (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), a recognised body which knowingly shares any of its profits...
s.sch001a Article 29 (except paragraph (4)) shall apply to a recognised body and its business as...
s.sch001a Article 30 shall apply in relation to employment by a recognised body in connection with...
s.sch001a In Article 31(1) to (4)— (a) any reference to a person who is or was...
s.sch001a In Article 32 the reference to a duly qualified solicitor shall be construed as including...
s.sch002 The fund shall be maintained and administered by the Society and shall be held by...
s.sch002 Every solicitor shall on each occasion on which a practising certificate is issued to him...
s.sch002 The Society may invest in trustee investments any money which forms part of the fund...
s.sch002 . . . the Society may borrow for the purposes of the fund from any...
s.sch002 The Society may insure with any person authorised by law to carry on insurance business...
s.sch002 There shall be carried to the credit of the fund— (a) all moneys and all...
s.sch002 All money from time to time forming part of the fund and all investments of...
s.sch002 Notwithstanding anything in Part IV or in this Schedule, the Society shall not make any...
s.sch002 Provided that— (a) a solicitor shall not be required to pay the annual contribution on...
s.sch002 Provided that the aggregate sum owing at any one time in respect of such loans...

Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.