Solicitors (Amendment) Act, 1994

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Power to inspect documents.

14.—(1) Where it appears to the Society, whether as a result of a complaint or otherwise, that it is necessary, for the purpose of investigating alleged misconduct by a solicitor, for an authorised person to attend with or without prior notice at the place or places of business of that solicitor, an authorised person may so attend at such place or places.

(2) Where an authorised person attends under this section at the place or places of business of a solicitor, he shall inform such solicitor or any clerk or servant of the solicitor of the purpose of his attendance as specified in subsection (1) of this section and may in pursuance of that purpose require the solicitor or any clerk or servant of the solicitor to make available to him for inspection such specified documents or categories of documents in the possession or under the control or within the procurement of the solicitor as the authorised person deems necessary to fulfil that purpose (whether or not such documents or any of them relate also to other matters).

(3) If a solicitor or clerk or servant of a solicitor who is required to make available specified documents or categories of documents to an authorised person for inspection under subsection (1) of this section refuses, neglects or otherwise fails without reasonable cause to duly comply with such requirement, the Society may, on notice to the solicitor, apply to the High Court for an order (which said order the Court is hereby empowered to make) requiring the solicitor to make available for inspection at his place or places of business such specified documents or categories of documents as the Society deem necessary for the purpose specified in subsection (1) of this section or as the Court thinks fit.