Lawyer Disciplinary Processes: An Empirical Study of Solicitors’ Misconduct Cases in England and Wales in 2015

Boon, A. and Whyte, A. 2019. Lawyer Disciplinary Processes: An Empirical Study of Solicitors’ Misconduct Cases in England and Wales in 2015. Legal Studies. 39 (3), pp. 455-478. https://doi.org/10.1017/lst.2018.45

TitleLawyer Disciplinary Processes: An Empirical Study of Solicitors’ Misconduct Cases in England and Wales in 2015
TypeJournal article
AuthorsBoon, A. and Whyte, A.
Abstract

The Legal Services Act 2007 effected major changes in the disciplinary system for solicitors in England Wales. Both the practice regulator, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and a disciplinary body, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, were reconstituted as independent bodies and given new powers. Our concern is the impact of the Act on the disciplinary system for solicitors. Examination of this issue involves consideration of changes to regulatory institutions and the mechanics of practice regulation. Drawing on Foucault’s notion of governmentality, empirical evidence drawn from disciplinary cases handled by the SDT and the SRA in 2015 is used to explore potentially different conceptions of discipline informing the work of the regulatory institutions. The conclusion considers the implications of our findings for the future of the professional disciplinary system.

KeywordsSolicitors' Discipline, Legal Services Act 2007, Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, Solicitor Regulation Authority
JournalLegal Studies
Journal citation39 (3), pp. 455-478
ISSN0261-3875
Year2019
PublisherCambridge University Press
Accepted author manuscript
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1017/lst.2018.45
Publication dates
Published online03 May 2019
Published in printSep 2019

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