Solicitors Immunity in UK Law
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Somasundaram v M. Julius Melchoir & Company
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Both counsel submit, rightly in our judgment, that advice as to a plea is something which is so intimately connected with the conduct of the cause in court that it can fairly be said to be a preliminary decision affecting the way that the cause is to be conducted when it comes to a hearing, within the test proposed by McCarthy P. in Rees v. Sinclair and approved by the House of Lords in Saif Ali's case. Indeed it is difficult to think of any decision more closely so connected.
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Saif Ali v Sydney Mitchell & Company
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I do not understand this formulation as suggesting an entirely new test, i.e. a double test requiring (a) intimate connection with the conduct of the cause in court and (b) necessity in the interests of the administration of justice. The latter words state the justification for the test but the test lies in the former words.
No matter what profession it may be, the common law does not impose on those who practise it any liability for damage resulting from what in the result turn out to have been errors of judgment, unless the error was such as no reasonably well-informed and competent member of that profession could have made. So too the common law makes allowance for the difficulties in the circumstances in which professional judgments have to be made and acted upon.
The first is that the barrister's immunity from liability for what he says and does in court is part of the general immunity from civil liability which attaches to all persons in respect of their participation in proceedings before a court of justice; judges, court officials, witnesses, parties, counsel and solicitors alike.
Without the support of those additional grounds of public interest, as I have already indicated, I can find no sufficient reason for extending the immunity to anything that a barrister does out of court; save for a limited exception analogous to the extension of a witness's protection in respect of evidence which he gives in court to statements made by him to the client and his solicitor for the purpose of preparing the witness's proof for trial.
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Meadow v General Medical Council
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Since I am applying a principle based on public policy to grant an immunity which has not hitherto been explicitly recognised, I can, I think, consider whether public policy requires that an absolute immunity should be granted. The approach of their Lordships in Darker's case indicates that immunity from suit, in respect of which the law has granted absolute immunity, should be confined as narrowly as reasonably possible.
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Stanton and Another v Callaghan and Others
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On any basis the Defendant when attending the meeting with his opposite number enjoyed the immunity. It is true that he did not do so pursuant to 0.38 rule 38 but the purpose of the meeting was to identify those parts of the evidence and the other's opinion which they could agree and those which they could not. The duty to the Court must override the fear of suit arising out of a departure from a previously held position.
- Arbitration Act 1996
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Courts and Legal Services Act 1990
...... respect to certain officers of the Supreme Court; to amend the Solicitors Act 1974; to amend the Arbitration Act 1950; to make provision with ...servant or agent of the Crown, or as enjoying any status,. immunity or privilege of the Crown. . (7) The Advisory Committee's property ......
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Competition Act 1998
......this section applies. . (4) But the Director may remove the immunity. given by subsection (3) if-— . . (a) he takes action under this Part ... SCH-4.8 . . 8. The services of barristers, advocates or solicitors. Medical Medical. . SCH-4.9 . . 9. The provision of medical or ......
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The United Nations (International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals) Order 2018
....... (2) Except in so far as in any particular case any immunity is waived by the Mechanism, counsel, advocates, solicitors and witnesses ......
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Forensic Immunity Post‐Osman
...... way that cause is to be conducted when it comes to a hearing.’ 6 Then the whole set of conditions for immunity had to be overhauled when solicitors were granted rights of audience in 1990. 7 So, forensic immunity, which started life as an exclusive exemption for advocates’ acts done in court, ......
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The Human Rights Act 1999: Opening the Door to Negligence Actions against the Police?
...... Domestic courts do not afford the police a blanket immunity from negligence actions," and police have been sued successfully for ...Bernstein, R (1999) "Police Immunity Undermined", Solicitors Journal, January 8. Coppel, J. (1999) The Human Rights Act 1998: ......
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Professional Negligence And The Quality Of Legal Services–‐An Economic Perspective
...... In England and Wales, negli- gence by solicitors, who represent the largest group of legal practi- tioners, is ... of the justifications for limited liability and immunity from liability. B. Market Failure In an ideal market for legal ......
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BETWEEN MARKET AND STATE: THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN TURMOIL1
...... “over- crowding.” Yet just a few years later solicitors are bemoaning the “recruitment crisis.” What explains this ... barristers or solicitors) should continue to enjoy immunity in advocacy. At the same time, the Law Society’s ......
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What If'I Am In An Accident In A Hired Motorhome?
......consideration and our experienced solicitors and paralegals are. trained to negotiate with third parties on your behalf ......
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Successful Appeal Of Defendant Costs On The Small Claims Track
...... communications/advice had passed between the Claimant and his Solicitors. Seeking to treat the Claimant's conduct as distinct from his instructing Solicitors, would in effect provide immunity to any represented Claimant from a finding of unreasonable conduct. The ......
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The Serious Fraud Office's Director Lisa Osofsky Has Been Signalling Her Intention To Make Greater Use Of Immunity Deals
...Neil Williams, of business crime solicitors Rahman Ravelli, can see potential benefits but also has reservations. The Director of the UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has expressed a desire to ......
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Supreme Court Abolishes Rule On Expert Witness Immunity
...... The facts. In March 2001, the Claimant had been hit by a car which resulted in physical and psychiatric injuries. He instructed solicitors with a view to bringing a claim in personal injury against the driver of the car. The solicitors in turn instructed the Defendant expert, a clinical ......
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Chapter STSM091030
...... has been particularly popular amongst professionals such as solicitors, doctors, accountants as well as being used for ordinary trading ...’, contributing funds to the partnership assets and enjoying immunity from liability beyond the amount of their contribution. A limited partner ......
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Request for issue of Writ of Sequestration (rule 83.9(3))
Queen's Bench forms for use in cases such as personal injury, negligence and breach of contract....... entered against a State, as defined in section 14 of the State Immunity Act 1978, evidence that the State has been served in accordance with rule ... to execution if acting in person, or by or on behalf of the solicitors of the person entitled to ......
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Request for issue of Writ of Possession (rule 83.9(3) and rule 83.13)
Queen's Bench forms for use in cases such as personal injury, negligence and breach of contract....... entered against a State, as defined in section 14 of the State Immunity Act 1978, evidence that the State has been served in accordance with rule ... to execution if acting in person, or by or on behalf of the solicitors of the person entitled to ......
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Request for issue of Writ of Control (rule 83.9(3))
Queen's Bench forms for use in cases such as personal injury, negligence and breach of contract....... entered against a State, as defined in section 14 of the State Immunity Act 1978, evidence that the State has been served in accordance with rule ... to execution if acting in person, or by or on behalf of the solicitors......