Commentary on Sections Part 4 – the Legal Profession The 1980 Act: further modification Section 139 – Powers of Tribunal
281.Section 139 amends section 53 of the 1980 Act and has three effects. Firstly, it provides that the Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal (“the Tribunal”) can exercise its powers under subsection (2) of that section if a solicitor has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more, or has been fined an amount equivalent to level 4 on the standard scale or more. Secondly, it provides that the Tribunal can order an incorporated practice to pay compensation to a complainer under subsection (2) of section 53 of the 1980 Act, as it can so order a solicitor at present. Finally, it provides that such compensation orders can be made against former solicitors or incorporated practices.