§ 1. The Board shall be a body corporate.
§ Constitution
§ 2.—(1) The Board shall consist of—
- (a) no more than 15 solicitors of at least ten years standing; and
- (b) no more than 10 lay persons.
§ (2) Members of the Board who are solicitors shall be elected by a postal ballot of all solicitors holding a practising certificate at the time of the election.
§ (3) Lay members of the Board shall be appointed by the Master of the Rolls after consultation with—
- (a) the Board;
- (b) relevant professional bodies; and
- (c) organisations representing the interests of consumers.
§ (4) A member of the Council of the Law Society shall not be eligible to stand for election to the Board.
§ 3.—(1) During the initial period the Board shall consist of a chairman and not more than 15 members (at least 5 of whom shall be lay members) appointed by the Master of the Rolls.
§ (2) In this paragraph the "initial period" means the period beginning with the establishment of the Board and ending immediately before the date fixed by the first scheme under subparagraph (3) for the coming into office of the first persons elected or nominated as members of the Board in accordance with the scheme.
§ (3) The Board shall prepare a scheme making provision as to—
- (a) the election or nomination of persons for the purposes of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph 2(1).
- (b) the tenure and vacation of office of persons elected or nominated as aforesaid, and the eligibility of persons for election or nomination.
§ (4) A scheme under sub-paragraph (3) shall not come into force until it has been approved by the Lord Chancellor and the first scheme shall be submitted to the Lord Chancellor for approval before the end of the period of one year beginning with the establishment of the Board.
§ (5) The Master of the Rolls shall after consultation with the members of the Board appoint a Chairman of the Board to hold office for the period of one year.
§ 4.—(1) The Board shall have power to raise a levy on practising solicitors, which levy shall be charged on the issue or renewal of a practising certificate.
§ (2) The levy referred to in sub-paragraph (1) shall be sufficient to meet the expenses of the Board incurred in the performance of their functions under this Act.