331.Paragraph 27 amends the 1980 Act to enable the Council to, on their own initiative, terminate the suspension of a solicitor where that solicitor was suspended for failing to comply with accounts rules. Where it does so, the Council must notify the solicitor of its decision and the reasons for the decision and restore the solicitor’s practising certificate (and may impose conditions on the certificate).
332.In addition to this, the Council may terminate the suspension of a solicitor on the basis that they are satisfied that the solicitor (or authorised legal business) is willing and able to comply with the applicable provisions. If it does so, the Council must specify the period within which the solicitor is to comply with those provisions and the solicitor must notify the Council of its compliance. If the solicitor fails to comply within the specified period, the Council may withdraw the practising certificate of the solicitor (or a solicitor who is a member of the authorised legal business) and may suspend the solicitor from practice.
Schedule 3 — Minor and Consequential Modifications of Enactments Powers where failure to comply with rules