The Law Society of Jersey Disciplinary Panel: appointment of lay members.

STATES OF JERSEY

THE LAW SOCIETY OF JERSEY DISCIPLINARY PANEL: APPOINTMENT OF LAY MEMBERS

Lodged au Greffe on 3rd September 2013 by the Chief Minister

STATES GREFFE

2013   Price code: B  P.104

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

in accordance with Article 18(2) of The Law Society of Jersey Law 2005, to appoint the following persons as lay members of the Disciplinary Panel of the Law Society of Jersey for a period of 5 years –

Mr. Paul John Battrick, M.B.E. Mr. Ian Berry

Mrs. Annette Cullen

Mr. (Patrick) David McGrath Professor Edward Sallis, O.B.E. Mrs. Deborah Ann Thompson.

CHIEF MINISTER

REPORT

Background

The Law Society of Jersey Law 2005 came into force on 1st January 2007, in order to provide for the administration and disciplinary control of advocates and solicitors of the Royal Court.

One  of  the  principal  objectives  of  the  Society  is  to  promote  high  standards  of professional conduct among practitioners, and to this end, the Law makes provision for  the  appointment  of  a  Disciplinary  Panel  to  consider  and  adjudicate  upon complaints against members of the legal profession.

In accordance with Article 18(1) of the Law, the Disciplinary Panel shall consist of "not  less than  7  and  not more  than  15 fit and  proper persons  as  lay  members." Complaints  against  legal  practitioners  are  submitted  to  the  President  of  the  Law Society and, in those cases where the President is satisfied that a complaint should be investigated, the matter will be referred to a disciplinary committee.

The Disciplinary Panel is currently comprised of only 6 lay members, 5 of whom are serving a second term of office, and one of whom is currently serving a first term of office.

The details of the current membership are set out below.

The re-appointment of the following lay members of the Disciplinary Panel for a second term of office of 5 years was approved by the States on 10th July 2012 under P.50/2012 –

Mr. Maurice Adrian des Forges Mr. Robin Charles Hacquoil Mr. Graham Edward Jennings Mrs. Pamela Margaret Nisbet Mr. Alfred David John Rosser.

The appointment of the following lay member of the Disciplinary Panel for a first term of  office  of  5 years  was  approved  by  the  States  on  11th  September  2009  under P.124/2009 –

Mrs. Margaret Ann Rondel.

As a consequence of the number of existing lay members, and in anticipation of the departure of 5 experienced members at the termination of their second term of office, The  Law  Society  of  Jersey  has  sought  to  attract  and  recruit  additional  members through a selection process overseen by the Jersey Appointments Commission.

Appointment of lay members to the Disciplinary Panel

The Chief Minister, in pursuance of Article 18(2) of The Law Society of Jersey Law 2005, is pleased to recommend to the States that the following persons be appointed as lay members of the Disciplinary Panel of The Law Society of Jersey –

Mr. Paul John Battrick, M.B.E. Mr. Ian Berry

Mrs. Annette Cullen

Mr. (Patrick) David McGrath Professor Edward Sallis, O.B.E. Mrs. Deborah Ann Thompson.

Subject to approval by the States, the lay members will serve for a period of 5 years, with their term of office commencing from the date of appointment by the States. Biographies for the candidates are provided in the attached Appendix.

It is desirable that these Members be appointed because the Society is currently below the membership parameters set out in Article 18(1) of the Law, following the recent resignation of a Member. Furthermore, in light of the fact that 5 of the remaining 6 members are due to step down simultaneously, the Chief Minister believes that it would be wise to appoint further members to the Panel to work alongside the existing experienced members.

The Jersey Appointments Commission was involved throughout the recruitment and selection process and has confirmed that these recommended appointments meet its eligibility criteria.

Recommendation

The Chief Minister is pleased to recommend the appointment of these persons as lay members of the Disciplinary Panel of The Law Society of Jersey. The work of the Disciplinary  Panel  can  be  time-consuming  and  complex,  and  the  Chief  Minister believes that the States is fortunate to have individuals with the relevant mix of skills and experience who are prepared to undertake this work in an honorary capacity. The States is accordingly asked to approve their appointment.

Financial and manpower implications

Administrative support to the Disciplinary Panel is provided by The Law Society of Jersey. The lay members work in an honorary capacity and, therefore, there are no financial or manpower implications for the States of Jersey.

APPENDIX

Mr. Paul John Battrick, M.B.E.

Mr. Paul Battrick, M.B.E. is the Managing Director of Pitcher and Le Quesne Funeral Directors,  having  previously  worked  at   Jackson 's  Yacht  Services,  Gorey  Yacht Services,  Iron  Stores  Marine  (Normans  Limited),  and  South  Pier  Shipyard. Mr. Battrick currently serves as a Member of the Youth Court Panel, and is also a Member of the Board of Governors of De La Salle School. In 2000, he was awarded an M.B.E. for services to the community, particularly in relation to his work for St. John Ambulance and as a crew member of the St. Helier Lifeboat Station.

Mr. Ian Berry

Mr. Ian Berry is a Consultant Psychologist operating in private practice since 2004, prior to which he was Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Head of Department for Clinical Psychology for the States of Jersey Health and Social Services Department. Mr. Berry has undertaken a number of voluntary and honorary roles during his career, including the Chair role for the Jersey Joint Secretariat for people with Special Needs, and  a  Member  and  Advisor  to  the  States  of  Jersey  Health  and  Social  Services Department Special Needs Review Steering Group.

Mrs. Annette Cullen

Mrs. Annette Cullen is the Director of Human Resources and Facilities Management at the Jersey Financial Services Commission, having previously held senior human resources positions for Volaw & Company, Ogier, and Lazard Brothers & Co. (Jersey) Limited.  Mrs. Cullen  is  a  Fellow  of  the  Chartered  Institute  of  Personnel  and Development, for which she served as Chair of the Jersey Branch for a period of 8 years. Mrs. Cullen is a former Centenier of the Parish of Trinity .

Mr. (Patrick) David McGrath

Mr. David McGrath served as an Officer of the States of Jersey Police Force from 1976 to 2002, reaching the rank of Chief Inspector, before embarking on a career in the financial services industry, which included periods working in the Compliance and Money Laundering Reporting functions for Zenith Trust Company Limited, Abbey National International Limited and Aberdeen Private Wealth Management Limited. Mr. McGrath is also engaged by the Sport, Education and Culture Department, where he acts as a driver and escort assisting vulnerable and Special Needs students at Mont à l'Abbé School.

Professor Edward Sallis, O.B.E.

Professor Sallis, O.B.E. has operated at senior management and Board level in the education sector, and was the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Highlands College from 1997 until his retirement in 2012. Professor Sallis has further Board experience including amongst others, Chairman of the Registration Advisory Board of the  British  Association  for  Counselling  and  Psychotherapy,  Trustee of the Jersey Heritage Trust, Non-Executive Director of the Institute for Learning, and Delegation Member  of the  Bretagne/States  of Jersey  Group de  Travail.  Professor  Sallis  is  a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and is also a Member of the States of Jersey

Appointments  Commission.  In  2010,  he  was  awarded  an  O.B.E.  for  services  to Education.

Mrs. Deborah Ann Thompson

Mrs. Deborah Thompson is a qualified physiotherapist and a Chartered Psychologist, who has practiced both in Jersey and in the U.K. In 2008, she was appointed to her current role as Head of Psychology at Beaulieu Convent School. Mrs. Thompson has served as a Member of the Youth Court Panel since 2005, and is also a Member of the Board of Governors of Beaulieu Convent School.