Legal Services Bill [HL]

House of Commons

Session 2006 - 07
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Other Bills before Parliament

Legal Services Bill [HL]

Legal Services Bill [HL]
Schedule 16 — The Law Society, solicitors, recognised bodies and foreign lawyers
Part 1 — The Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47)
250

46    (1)
Section 49 (appeals from Tribunal) is amended as follows.
      (2)
In subsection (1) for “lie—” to the end substitute “lie to the High Court”.
      (3)
In subsection (2), after “(3)” insert “and to section 43(5) of the Administration
of Justice Act 1985”.
      (4)
In subsection (3) for “legal aid work (within the meaning of that section)”
5
substitute “providing representation funded by the Legal Services
Commission as part of the Criminal Defence Service”.
      (5)
In subsection (4)—
(a)
omit “and the Master of the Rolls”, and
(b)
for “they” substitute “it”.
10
      (6)
For subsection (6) substitute—
“(6)
Any decision of the High Court—
(a)
on an application under section 43(3) or 47(1)(d), (e) or (f), or
(b)
against an order under section 43(3A),

shall be final.”
15
      (7)
Omit subsection (7).
47
After that section insert—
“49A
Appeals to the Tribunal instead of the High Court
(1)
The Society may, with the approval of the Tribunal, make rules
which provide that in such circumstances as may be prescribed by
20
the rules an appeal under any of the provisions listed in subsection
(2) lies to the Tribunal and not to the High Court.
(2)
Those provisions are—
(a)
section 8(4);
(b)
section 13A(6);
25
(c)
section 16(5);
(d)
section 28(3D);
(e)
section 41(3);
(f)
paragraph 14 of Schedule 14 to the Courts and Legal Services
Act 1990 (foreign lawyers: appeals against conditions or
30
refusals).
(3)
Any decision of the Tribunal on an appeal by virtue of rules made
under this section shall be final.”
48
In section 54 (restrictions on powers to strike names off roll)—
(a)
in subsection (1) for “service under articles” substitute “persons
35
seeking admission as solicitors”, and
(b)
in subsection (2) for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute—
“(a)
that a solicitor who undertook a training
responsibility for him under training regulations
neglected or omitted to take out a practising
40
certificate; or
(b)
that the name of a solicitor who undertook such a
responsibility for a period has been removed from or
struck off the roll after the end of that period.”

Legal Services Bill [HL]
Schedule 16 — The Law Society, solicitors, recognised bodies and foreign lawyers
Part 1 — The Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47)
251

49    (1)
Section 56 (orders as to remuneration for non-contentious business) is
amended as follows.
      (2)
In subsection (1)—
(a)
in paragraph (a) for “Secretary of State” substitute “Lord
Chancellor”,
5
(b)
after paragraph (d) insert—
“(da)
a member of the Legal Services Board nominated by
that Board;”, and
(c)
in paragraph (e) for “Secretary of State” substitute “Lord
Chancellor”.
10
      (3)
In subsection (2) for “(the Secretary of State” to “think fit” substitute “(the
Lord Chancellor being one), may make general orders prescribing the
general principles to be applied when determining”.
      (4)
In subsection (3)—
(a)
for “Secretary of State” substitute “Lord Chancellor”, and
15
(b)
for “Council” (in both places) substitute “Society”.
      (5)
In subsection (4) for “An order” to the end of paragraph (a) substitute—

“The principles prescribed by an order under this section may
provide that solicitors should be remunerated—”.
      (6)
In subsection (5) for “An order” to “reference” substitute—
20

“The general principles prescribed by an order under this section
may provide that the amount of such remuneration is to be
determined by having regard”.
      (7)
In subsection (6)(a) for “taxation” substitute “assessment”.
      (8)
In subsection (7)—
25
(a)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”, and
(b)
for “regulated by” substitute “subject to”.
50
In section 57 (non-contentious business agreements)—
(a)
in subsection (2) for “stamps” substitute “taxes”,
(b)
in subsection (5)—
30
(i)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”, and
(ii)
for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”, and
(c)
in subsection (7)—
(i)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”, and
(ii)
for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”.
35
51
In section 60 (effect of contentious business agreements)—
(a)
in subsection (1) for “taxation” substitute “assessment”,
(b)
in subsection (2)—
(i)
for “taxed” substitute “assessed”, and
(ii)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”, and
40
(c)
for subsection (5) substitute—
“(5)
A provision in a contentious business agreement that the
solicitor shall not be liable for negligence shall be void if the
client is a natural person who, in entering that agreement, is

Legal Services Bill [HL]
Schedule 16 — The Law Society, solicitors, recognised bodies and foreign lawyers
Part 1 — The Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47)
252

acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business or
profession.
(6)
A provision in a contentious business agreement that the
solicitor shall be relieved from any responsibility to which he
would otherwise be subject as a solicitor shall be void.”
5
52
In section 61 (enforcement of contentious business agreements)—
(a)
in subsection (2)(b) for “taxed” substitute “assessed”,
(b)
in subsection (3) for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”,
(c)
in subsection (4)—
(i)
for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”, and
10
(ii)
for “taxed” substitute “assessed”,
(d)
in subsection (4B)—
(i)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”, and
(ii)
for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”, and
(e)
in subsection (5) for “taxed” substitute “assessed”.
15
53
In section 62 (contentious business agreements by certain representatives)—
(a)
in subsection (1) for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”, and
(b)
in subsection (2)—
(i)
for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”, and
(ii)
for “taxed” substitute “assessed”.
20
54
In section 63 (effect on contentious business agreement of death etc)—
(a)
in subsection (2)—
(i)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”, and
(ii)
for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”, and
(b)
in subsection (3)—
25
(i)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”, and
(ii)
for “taxing officer” (in both places) substitute “costs officer”.
55
In section 64 (form of bill of costs for contentious business)—
(a)
in subsection (3) for “taxed” substitute “assessed”, and
(b)
in subsection (4)—
30
(i)
for “taxed” substitute “assessed”,
(ii)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”, and
(iii)
for “taxing officer” (in both places) substitute “costs officer”.
56
In section 65 (security for costs and termination of retainer), in subsection (1)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”.
35
57
In section 66 (taxations with respect to contentious business)—
(a)
in the section heading for “Taxations” substitute “Assessments”,
(b)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”, and
(c)
for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”.
58
In section 67 (inclusion of disbursements in bill of costs), in paragraph (b)—
40
(a)
for “taxed” substitute “assessed”,
(b)
for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”, and
(c)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”.
59    (1)
Section 69 (action to recover solicitor’s costs) is amended as follows.

Legal Services Bill [HL]
Schedule 16 — The Law Society, solicitors, recognised bodies and foreign lawyers
Part 1 — The Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47)
253

      (2)
In subsection (1) for “taxed” substitute “assessed”.
      (3)
For subsection (2) substitute—
“(2)
The requirements referred to in subsection (1) are that the bill must
be—
(a)
signed in accordance with subsection (2A), and
5
(b)
delivered in accordance with subsection (2C).
(2A)
A bill is signed in accordance with this subsection if it is—
(a)
signed by the solicitor or on his behalf by an employee of the
solicitor authorised by him to sign, or
(b)
enclosed in, or accompanied by, a letter which is signed as
10
mentioned in paragraph (a) and refers to the bill.
(2B)
For the purposes of subsection (2A) the signature may be an
electronic signature.
(2C)
A bill is delivered in accordance with this subsection if—
(a)
it is delivered to the party to be charged with the bill
15
personally,
(b)
it is delivered to that party by being sent to him by post to, or
left for him at, his place of business, dwelling-house or last
known place of abode, or
(c)
it is delivered to that party—
20
(i)
by means of an electronic communications network,
or
(ii)
by other means but in a form that nevertheless
requires the use of apparatus by the recipient to
render it intelligible,
25

and that party has indicated to the person making the
delivery his willingness to accept delivery of a bill sent in the
form and manner used.
(2D)
An indication to any person for the purposes of subsection (2C)(c)—
(a)
must state the address to be used and must be accompanied
30
by such other information as that person requires for the
making of the delivery;
(b)
may be modified or withdrawn at any time by a notice given
to that person.
(2E)
Where a bill is proved to have been delivered in compliance with the
35
requirements of subsections (2A) and (2C), it is not necessary in the
first instance for the solicitor to prove the contents of the bill and it is
to be presumed, until the contrary is shown, to be a bill bona fide
complying with this Act.
(2F)
A bill which is delivered as mentioned in subsection (2C)(c) is to be
40
treated as having been delivered on the first working day after the
day on which it was sent (unless the contrary is proved).”
      (4)
At the end insert—
“(5)
In this section references to an electronic signature are to be read in
accordance with section 7(2) of the Electronic Communications Act
45
2000 (c. 7).

Legal Services Bill [HL]
Schedule 16 — The Law Society, solicitors, recognised bodies and foreign lawyers
Part 1 — The Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47)
254

(6)
In this section—
“electronic communications network” has the same meaning as
in the Communications Act 2003 (c. 21);
“working day” means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday,
Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday in England
5
and Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act
1971 (c. 80).”
60
In section 70 (taxation on application of party chargeable or solicitor)—
(a)
in the section heading for “Taxation” substitute “Assessment”,
(b)
in subsection (1)—
10
(i)
for “taxed” substitute “assessed”, and
(ii)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”,
(c)
in subsection (2)—
(i)
for “taxation” (in both places) substitute “assessment”, and
(ii)
for “taxed” substitute “assessed”,
15
(d)
in subsections (3) to (5) for “taxation” (in each place) substitute
“assessment”,
(e)
in subsection (6)—
(i)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”, and
(ii)
for “taxed” substitute “assessed”,
20
(f)
in subsection (7)—
(i)
for “taxation” (in each place) substitute “assessment”,
(ii)
for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”, and
(iii)
for “tax” substitute “assess”,
(g)
in subsection (8) for “taxation” (in each place) substitute
25
“assessment”,
(h)
in subsection (9)—
(i)
for “for taxation” (in both places) substitute “for assessment”,
(ii)
for “the taxation” (in both places) substitute “the assessment”,
(iii)
for “a taxation” substitute “an assessment”, and
30
(iv)
for “one fifth of the amount of the bill is taxed off” substitute
“the amount of the bill is reduced by one fifth”,
(i)
in subsection (10)—
(i)
for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”, and
(ii)
for “taxation” (in both places) substitute “assessment”,
35
(j)
omit subsection (11), and
(k)
in subsection (12)—
(i)
for “of the bill taxed off” substitute “of the reduction in the
bill”,
(ii)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”, and
40
(iii)
for “taxed” (in the second place) substitute “assessed”.
61
In section 71 (taxation on application of third parties)—
(a)
in the section heading for “Taxation” substitute “Assessment”,
(b)
in subsection (1) for “taxation” substitute “assessment”,
(c)
in subsection (3) —
45
(i)
for “taxed” substitute “assessed”, and
(ii)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”,
(d)
in subsection (4) for “taxation” substitute “assessment”,

Legal Services Bill [HL]
Schedule 16 — The Law Society, solicitors, recognised bodies and foreign lawyers
Part 1 — The Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47)
255

(e)
in subsection (6)—
(i)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”, and
(ii)
for “taxed” substitute “assessed”, and
(f)
in subsection (7) for “taxed” substitute “assessed”.
62
In section 72 (supplementary provisions as to taxations)—
5
(a)
in the section heading for “taxations” substitute “assessments”,
(b)
in subsection (1) for “taxation” substitute “assessment”,
(c)
in subsection (2)—
(i)
for “taxing officer” (in each place) substitute “costs officer”,
(ii)
for second and fourth “taxing” substitute “assessing”, and
10
(iii)
for “tax” substitute “assess”,
(d)
in subsection (3)—
(i)
for “taxing officer” (in both places) substitute “costs officer”,
(ii)
for “tax” substitute “assess”, and
(iii)
for “taxing” (in second place) substitute “assessing”, and
15
(e)
in subsection (4)—
(i)
for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”, and
(ii)
for “taxed” substitute “assessed”.
63
In section 73 (charging orders), in subsection (1)—
(a)
for “taxed” substitute “assessed”, and
20
(b)
for “taxation” substitute “assessment”.
64
In section 74 (special provisions as to contentious business done in county
courts)—
(a)
in subsection (2)—
(i)
for “registrar” substitute “district judge”,
25
(ii)
for “taxing officer” substitute “costs officer”, and
(iii)
for “taxation” (in both places) substitute “assessment”, and
(b)
in subsection (3) for “taxation” substitute “assessment”.
65
Omit the following provisions—
section 76 (non-practising solicitors eligible for membership of Society),
30
section 77 (annual subscription to Society), and
section 78 (cessation and suspension of membership of Society).
66
For section 79 (committees and sub-committees of the Council) substitute—
“79
Discharge of the Council’s functions
(1)
The Council may arrange for any function of the Council (including
35
any function exercisable by the Council by virtue of section 80) to be
exercised by—
(a)
a committee of the Council,
(b)
a sub-committee of such a committee,
(c)
a body corporate which is established for the purpose of
40
providing services to the Council (or any committee of the
Council) and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Society, or
(d)
an individual (whether or not a member of the Society’s
staff).

Legal Services Bill [HL]
Schedule 16 — The Law Society, solicitors, recognised bodies and foreign lawyers
Part 1 — The Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47)
256

(2)
Where by virtue of subsection (1) any function may be discharged by
a committee, the committee may arrange for the discharge of the
function by—
(a)
a sub-committee of that committee,
(b)
a body corporate which is established for the purpose of
5
providing services to the Council (or any committee of the
Council) and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Society, or
(c)
an individual (whether or not a member of the Society’s
staff).
(3)
Where, by virtue of subsection (1) or (2), any function may be
10
discharged by a sub-committee, that sub-committee may arrange for
the discharge of the function by an individual (whether or not a
member of the Society’s staff).
(4)
Arrangements made under this section in respect of a function may
provide that the function is to be exercised in accordance with the
15
arrangements only (and not by the delegating body).
(5)
In subsection (4) “the delegating body” means—
(a)
in the case of arrangements under subsection (1), the Council,
(b)
in the case of arrangements under subsection (2), the
committee,
20
(c)
in the case of arrangements under subsection (3), the sub-
committee.
(6)
Subsections (2) and (3) have effect subject to any contrary direction
given by the Council.
(7)
Where arrangements under subsection (3) relate to a function
25
delegated by a committee under subsection (2), subsection (3) also
has effect subject to any contrary direction given by that committee.
(8)
Any power given by subsection (1), (2) or (3) may be exercised so as
to impose restrictions or conditions on the body or individual by
whom the function is to be discharged.
30
(9)
A committee or sub-committee may include or consist of individuals
other than—
(a)
members of the Council;
(b)
members of the Society;
(c)
solicitors.
35
(10)
A sub-committee of a committee may also include or consist of
individuals other than members of the committee.
(11)
The Council may make arrangements for the appointment and
removal of members of any committee to be made other than by the
Council.
40
(12)
A committee or sub-committee may regulate its own procedure,
including quorum.
(13)
The validity of any proceedings of a committee or sub-committee is
not affected by any vacancy among its members.
(14)
In this section “wholly-owned subsidiary” has the meaning given by
45
section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006.