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STATES OF JERSEY
LAW OFFICERS' DEPARTMENT: REVISED DISCIPLINARY PROCESS
Lodged au Greffe on 10th September 2013 by Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour
STATES GREFFE
2013 Price code: A P.109
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion
- to request the Chief Minister to bring forward within 12 months proposals for revised procedures to deal with any complaints made against lawyers working in the Law Officers' Department (with the exception of H.M. Attorney General and H.M. Solicitor General), with the new procedures to mirror those set out inThe Law Society of Jersey Law 2005 in relation to complaints made against advocates and solicitors working in the private sector;
- to request the Chief Minister to consult with the Crown on the desirability and feasibility of establishing a revised disciplinary process for H.M. Attorney General and H.M. Solicitor General and to report to the States on the outcome of this consultation.
DEPUTY R.G. LE HÉRISSIER OF ST. SAVIOUR
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REPORT
During Question Time on 2nd July 2013, Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier drew attention to the fact that lawyers working in the Law Officers' Department are not subject to the same disciplinary procedures as their private sector counterparts, who are subject to the disciplinary processes of The Law Society of Jersey Law 2005.
They had been exempted from these provisions as a result of an amendment moved in 2005 by the Chief Minister.
In answering the question of Deputy Higgins, H.M. Solicitor General asserted that the Law Society had not demurred in 2005 and also maintained that the lawyers working in the Law Officers' Department were subject to 2 Codes, one of which is a general Civil Service code and not tailored for lawyers. He also referred to a Code operating within the Law Officers' Department. Details were not provided, but it did not appear that this Code was a substitute for the disciplinary processes of the Law Society of Jersey Law.
The Solicitor General also drew attention to the potential for malicious complaints given the nature of the work of some lawyers in the Law Officers' Department. However, bodies like the police also operate in this environment, but no-one would seriously suggest that there not be a proper procedure for dealing with complaints against the police.
Proposal
My proposition is mild in the circumstances. As a member of the then Legislation Committee who was involved in the promotion of the original Law, and as the member who moved an amendment seeking lay involvement in the disciplinary process, I think the whole process is due for review. However, I am prepared to accept proposals which align the disciplinary processes of the Law Officers' Department with those that currently apply to private sector lawyers. I ask the Chief Minister to bring such proposals forward within the next 12 months.
Whilst this proposition is directed at ensuring parity and improvement of disciplinary processes for public and private sector lawyers, the question remains of the accountability in this regard of the 2 Crown Officers in the Law Officers' Department, H.M. Attorney General and H.M. Solicitor General. Paragraph (b) requests the Chief Minister to liaise with the Crown on this matter and to report back to members. I also believe that the role played by H.M. Attorney General currently in regard to disciplinary procedures will need to be the subject of a further review.
Financial and manpower implications
This will involve a review of current practices, a review of practices in comparable jurisdictions, and should involve research by a project officer for approximately 4 months at most. I am satisfied that this can be undertaken within existing resources. The actual system that will be established to investigate complaints may involve some additional cost if independent external involvement is required, but on the basis that there will hopefully be few complaints and that provision already exists, as explained by the Solicitor General on 2nd July 2013, for an external Q.C. to be engaged if required to deal with a serious complaint, I am satisfied that the new system can be accommodated within existing resources.
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