Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 — United Kingdom law | Esheria

Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980

This provision sets up the Law Society of Scotland and its Council, requires the Council to run key regulatory functions, and limits who may practise as a solicitor without a practising certificate.

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Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Instrument
Act or statute
Version
Undated source snapshot
Language
en
Official source
View official record ↗
accounts rules audit reporting client accounts disciplinary procedure discipline fees foreign lawyers fund segregation grant applications guarantee fund incorporated practices insurance insurance contracts legal services licensing privilege professional bodies professional conduct registration solicitors

Statute overview

About this statute

This provision sets up the Law Society of Scotland and its Council, requires the Council to run key regulatory functions, and limits who may practise as a solicitor without a practising certificate. This provision regulates solicitors and incorporated practices, including offences for helping unqualified people, rule-making powers for the Council, accounts/discipline rules, and privilege for certain client communications. This provision sets appeal routes for solicitors, lets the Council and Tribunal make and enforce certain directions and rules, and regulates documents, client accounts, indemnity, and disciplinary consequences. This provision covers registration, discipline, fees, and related powers for solicitors, notaries public, and foreign lawyers, including the Council’s register-keeping duties and the Court’s powers to admit, restore, fine, or sanction in specified cases. This provision sets rules for the Guarantee Fund, related applications and grants, and the Tribunal’s composition and procedure.