Professional conduct and fitness to practise

27 Legal assessors.

1

The General Council shall appoint persons to be legal assessors.

2

They shall have the general function of giving advice to—

a

any person appointed in accordance with rules made under section 20(4),

b

the Investigating Committee,

c

the Professional Conduct Committee, F1. . .

d

the Health Committee, F2or

F2e

the Registrar,

on questions of law arising in connection with any matter which he or (as the case may be) the committee is considering.

3

They shall also have such other functions as may be conferred on them by rules made by the General Council.

4

To be qualified for appointment as a legal assessor under this section, a person must—

a

have a 10 year general qualification (within the meaning of section 71 of the M1Courts and Legal Services Act 1990);

b

be an advocate or solicitor in Scotland of at least 10 years’ standing; or

c

be a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland or F3solicitor of the Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland of at least 10 years’ standing.

5

The General Council may pay such fees, allowances and expenses to persons appointed as legal assessors as it may determine.

6

In the case of a legal assessor who is also a member of the General Council or of any of its committees, any such payment made to him in his capacity as a legal assessor shall be in addition to any to which he is entitled as such a member.