Solicitors (Amendment) Act, 1960

Control of banking accounts of solicitors.

20.—(1) Where the Society are of opinion that a solicitor or a clerk or servant of a solicitor has been guilty of dishonesty in connection with that solicitor's practice as a solicitor or in connection with any trust of which that solicitor is a trustee, they may apply to the High Court, and the High Court may make an order directing either—

(a) that no banking company shall, without leave of the High Court, make any payment out of a banking account in the name of the solicitor or his firm, or

(b) that a specified banking company shall not, without leave of the High Court, make any payment out of a banking account kept by such company in the name of the solicitor or his firm.

(2) The High Court shall have power to hear in camera an application for an order under subsection (1) of this section.

(3) Where the High Court make in relation to a solicitor an order under subsection (1) of this section, the High Court may at the same time order that his practising certificate be suspended until the certificate expires.

(4) If any person acts as agent or nominee of a solicitor or his firm so as to render nugatory an order made by the High Court under subsection (1) of this section, such person shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds.