Can I find out whether a solicitor has ever appeared as a respondent before the SDT?
Yes. If the name of the solicitor you are interested in does not appear in the Judgment search, please contact us and a member of staff will provide an answer.
Can I attend the Tribunal to watch a hearing?
Yes. Most hearings are open to the public. However, any party to a case and any person who claims to be affected by it can apply to the Tribunal for the hearing, or part of it, to be held in private on the grounds of exceptional hardship or exceptional prejudice to a party, a witness or any person affected by the application. The Tribunal will only grant the application in those exceptional circumstances if it is satisfied that the grounds have been met. The Tribunal's order on such an application will always reflect what it considers to be just and proper. For further details please refer to the Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) Rules 2007.
What time do hearings start?
Hearings usually start at 10.00am, but please check our forthcoming hearings page for specific details.
Where is the nearest station to the Tribunal's courts and offices?
The City Thameslink for over ground, and Blackfriars or St Paul’s for underground.
Where exactly is the SDT based?
The SDT's courts and offices are on the corner of Ludgate Circus, between the Evans Cycle shop and Santander Bank.
Is there disabled access?
The SDT building is fully adapted for disabled access, with lifts able to accommodate most wheelchairs to all floors. Hearing loops are provided in all court rooms. Members of staff are on hand to provide additional assistance. If you have any specific requirements, please let us know in advance and we will do all that we can to assist.
Are there photocopying facilities available?
Yes, there is a photocopier available, free of charge, on the 3rd floor.
Can I have a copy of a Judgment (the document containing the Tribunal's detailed reasons, findings and orders)?
Yes, in most cases. Recent Judgments are available to download from our website. Older Judgments may not available to download, but can be obtained via post or email directly from the Tribunal’s office. Please contact us and a member of staff will be happy to assist you with this. In certain cases, particularly if the Tribunal has ordered that the hearing should take place in private, the Judgment may not be available to anyone other than the parties to the case without specific permission of the Tribunal.
How soon after a final hearing will the Judgment be made available?
The SDT aims to produce Judgments within seven weeks of last day of the hearing in 80% of cases. Judgments may take longer to produce in lengthy and/or complex cases.
How do I obtain a written transcript of a hearing?
The Tribunal does not generally produce written transcripts of its hearings. It does make audio copies of hearings (in CD format) available on request. A CD is not available when the hearing took place in private or when the Tribunal has ordered that the recording should not be released. Parties to a case are always entitled to a CD.
Applications for recordings should be sent in writing by post to the following address:-
Operations Manager
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
5th Floor
Gate House
1 Farringdon Street
London
EC4M 7LG
The fee for the provision of the recording is £10.00. Please send a cheque made payable to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal with your letter. Please note: recordings are formatted in such a way that they are not accessible via standard audio equipment. Most firms of transcribers will be able to produce a transcript from the CD. If you wish to listen to the recording, you must first download free software called – “The Record Player” from www.fortherecord.com.
How do I appeal against a substantive decision of the Tribunal?
Appeals from substantive decisions of the Tribunal lie to the Administrative Court.
The time limit for an appeal is 28 days from the date of receipt of the Tribunal's Judgment.
For further information on how to appeal please contact the Administrative Court Office.
Administrative Court Office
The Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
England
WC2A 2LL
DX 44450 RCJ / STRAND
Royal Courts of Justice Switchboard: 020 7947 6000
Issue and General Enquiries: 020 7947 6655
Issue and General Enquiries Fax: 020 7947 6802
The Tribunal is not a party to an appeal from its substantive decisions.