Solicitors (Amendment) Act, 1994

PART V

Qualifying for Admission as a Solicitor

Requirements for admission as solicitor (section 24 of Principal Act).

40.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 24:

Requirements for admission as solicitor.

24.—(1) Subject to this Part of this Act, a person shall not be admitted as a solicitor unless—

(a) he has attained the age of 21 years,

(b) he has been bound by indentures of apprenticeship for the appropriate term and has satisfied the Society that he has duly served under such indentures of apprenticeship, or has been exempted, as may be prescribed, from being bound by or from service under such indentures of apprenticeship,

(c) he has duly attended such course or courses of education or training (or both) and passed such examination or examinations as may be prescribed, or has been exempted as may be prescribed from attending such course or courses or passing such examinations, or any of them, except those examinations that are obligatory for him,

(d) he has complied with the prescribed requirements (if any) as to service under indentures of apprenticeship and admission of persons to be solicitors or compliance therewith has been waived in the prescribed manner by the Society, and

(e) he has satisfied the Society that he is a fit and proper person to be admitted as a solicitor.

(2) (a) Where the Society decide that a person has not satisfied them that he is a fit and proper person to be admitted as a solicitor, the Society shall, as soon as practicable, send a notice in writing to that person stating that decision, the date thereof and the reasons therefor.

(b) A person to whom a decision under paragraph (a) of this subsection relates may, within a period of two months from the date of receipt from the Society of notice in writing stating that decision, apply to the President of the High Court to rescind that decision and the President of the High Court, on hearing such application, and on directing such further enquiries as he may think fit, may by order—

(i) confirm that it was proper for the Society to make the decision, or

(ii) rescind the decision and declare that person to be a fit and proper person to be admitted as a solicitor.”.