The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal ("SDT") is a statutory tribunal and is assisted in its administration by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Administration Limited ("SDTAL"), a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under company number 06654464. The address of the SDT and registered office of the SDTAL is 3rd Floor, Gate House, 1 Farringdon Street, London, EC4M 7LG.

The SDT is funded in accordance with the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding dated 23 August 2019 made between the Legal Services Board, the SDT, SDTAL, and The Law Society.  Neither the SDT nor the SDTAL are registered for VAT purposes.

The Tribunal is empowered, with the concurrence of the Master of the Rolls, to make rules governing its procedure and this power is exercisable by statutory instrument.

For applications lodged from 14th January 2008 onwards the rules are the Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) Rules 2007 [S.I.2007/3588]  Please also see Correction Note - July 2009

For applications lodged prior to that date the rules are the Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) Rules 1994 [S.I 1994 /288] ("The Rules").

The rules governing appeals are the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (Appeals and Amendment) Rules 2011.

From time to time the Tribunal issues Notices and makes Practice/Procedural Directions under Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) Rules 2007 Rule 21(3).

Current Practice/Procedural Directions 

Practice Direction 1

Service of Proceedings

Practice Direction 2

Disclosure/Discovery

Practice Direction 3

Application for Rehearing

Practice Direction 4

Service by Special Delivery

Practice Direction 5

Inference To Be Drawn Where Respondent Does Not Give Evidence

Practice Direction 6

Case Management For First Instance Proceedings

Including Practice Direction, template Standard Directions and Certificate of Readiness

The Standard Directions with Practice Direction 6 have been revised to include the procedure for Agreed Outcomes applications as standard direction 2, in effect for all such applications made after 1 September 2016

Applications for adjournment of hearings

Policy & Practice Notes on Adjournment and Application Form

Please also refer to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Guidance Note on Sanctions (6th Edition) for details of the Tribunal's powers on sanctions for cases heard after 1 January 2019.

Information concerning other applications that can be made to the SDT are included in the:

Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Guidance Note on Other Powers of the Tribunal (2nd Edition), which applies to cases heard after 1 January 2019. 

Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Guidance Note on Applications for Special Measures for Vulnerable Witness and Application Form 

Applications to use video link

For copies of previous editions of the Guidance Note on Sanctions please contact the SDT administrative office by telephone to 0207 329 4808 or email Enquiries@solicitorsdt.com.