Click on the links below to go to the relevant section: The Tribunal is not currently seeking new members. 1. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal The Tribunal constituted by statute under the Solicitors Act 1974 has power to impose sanctions upon solicitors who are proven to have been in breach of the rules governing their profession or who have been found to have been guilty of professional misconduct. The Tribunal also has power to restore a struck off solicitor to the Roll and to make orders controlling the employment of solicitors' clerks within the solicitors' profession. The Tribunal's procedures are regulated by the Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) Rules 1994 (S.I. No. 288 of 1994). All appointments of lay members and solicitor members are made by the Master of the Rolls. So as to underline the fact that the Tribunal is independent of the Law Society, solicitor members must be of 10 years standing and may not be members of the Council of the Law Society. Lay members are appointed to the Tribunal to enable that the interests of the public to be recognised. Appointment is for a 3 year term (subject to renewal). 2. Tribunal Members - Principal Functions (i) To rule upon allegations of misconduct and breaches of regulations for the solicitors' profession and on the facts and merits of each case and exercise statutory powers as appropriate in a formal court environment. The Tribunal hearings are conducted in public. (ii) To decide whether written originating applications disclose a case to answer. To be undertaken by solicitor members on a regular basis and occasionally in the case of lay members. 3. Average Attendance Requirements Sittings of the Tribunal involve two solicitor and one lay member and members can expect to sit once every 3 - 4 weeks plus occasional attendance at long hearings of two to three days and some of which might run for two to three weeks, although this is unusual. 4. Training Tribunal members will be expected to maintain and strengthen skills relevant to the task and to keep up to date on matters of professional conduct and the statutory rules. Attendance will be needed at training sessions and briefings and for judicial training from time to time. 5. Expenses (i) Solicitor Members Solicitor members are not remunerated but expenses are recoverable at the rate set from time to time by the Law Society for Council Members. (ii) Lay Members An honorarium of £242 per day and expenses recoverable at the rates set from time to time by the Lord Chancellor's department. 6. Equal Opportunities The Tribunal welcomes applications from all sections of the community irrespective of gender, race, colour, sexuality, or disability and across all age ranges. The Tribunal seeks solicitor members from a wide geographical area and lay members with appropriate experience and commitment. 7. Person Specification All those appointed will need to be able to demonstrate the following qualities:-
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