Regulations/Standards

Legislation and Practice Regulations set out the standards which solicitors in Northern Ireland must adhere to in relation to their practices and their duties to their clients.

The primary legislation is:

Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 as amended (the Order)

The Order is the statutory framework enabling the Law Society to act as the regulatory authority in relation to the qualification, education, professional practice, conduct and discipline of solicitors in order to maintain the independence, ethical standards, professional competence and quality of services offered to the public.

Core Practice Regulations and Miscellaneous Client Care Regulations

The core regulations made pursuant to the power granted to the Law Society are:

Solicitors’ Practice Regulations 1987

The Solicitors' Practice Regulations 1987 provides the standards to which solicitors must work as solicitors admitted in Northern Ireland. In 2010 the regulations were updated.

Solicitors' Practice (Amendment) Regulations 2010

In June 2013 an updated and consolidated version of the 1987 Practice Regulations to take account of the 2010 and 2013 Practice Amendment Regulations.

Solicitors Practice (Amendment) Regulations 1987 as amended 25th June 2013

In addition there are a number of core regulations which govern the practice of solicitors in Northern Ireland and their relationship and duties to their clients.

These include: