Law Society Disciplinary Panel: Appointment of lay members.

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A decision made (11/05/2007) regarding: Law Society Disciplinary Panel: Appointment of lay members.

Subject:	Law Society Disciplinary Panel: Appointment of lay members
Decision Reference:	MD-C-2007-0030		Exempt clause(s):	n/a
Type of Report: (oral or written)	Written		Person Giving Report (if oral):	n/a
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?	n/a		Report File ref:	n/a
Written report – Title	Law Society Disciplinary Panel: Appointment of lay members
Written report – Author (name and job title)	Jeremy Harris, Policy Adviser
Decision(s): The Chief Minister approved a draft report and proposition recommending the appointment of the following persons as lay members of the Law Society Disciplinary Panel for a period of five years with effect from the date of appointment by the States - · Mr. Maurice Adrian des Forges · Mrs. Sharon Eddie · Mr. Robin Charles Hacquoil · Mr. Graham Edward Jennings · Captain Brian James Stuart Nibbs · Mrs. Pamela Margaret Nisbet · Mr. Alfred David John Rosser
Reason(s) for decision: The persons listed in the report and proposition are considered to have the skills and experience that will enable them to carry out the duties of lay members of the Disciplinary Panel.
Action required: Mr. Harris will arrange for the report and proposition to be lodged ‘au Greffe’ on or before 22nd May for consideration by the States on 5th June 2007.
Signature: Chief Minister		Date of Decision: 11 May 2007

Law Society Disciplinary Panel: Appointment of lay members.

REPORT TO CHIEF MINISTER

Law Society Disciplinary Panel: Appointment of lay members

Introduction:

The Chief Minister is asked to approve a draft report and proposition recommending the appointment of seven persons as lay members of the Law Society Disciplinary Panel. It is proposed that these appointments should run for a period of five years with effect from the date of appointment by the States.

Background:

In 2005 the States of Jersey approved the Law Society of Jersey Law and agreed that the Law Society should be formally incorporated as a public body. One of the main 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 December 2006 the States approved the Law Society of Jersey Law (Appointed Day) Act 2006, the main purpose of which was to bring into force on 1st January 2007 the provisions of the Law Society of Jersey Law 2005. A recruitment exercise for lay members of the Disciplinary Panel has since been conducted, and the appointments panel is recommending that seven persons should be appointed to this position.

Further information about the recruitment and selection process is given in the attached draft report and proposition. The Appointments Commission has been involved throughout the process and it has confirmed that this process has met the requirement for openness of competition, impartiality, equality of opportunity, and selection based on merit.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that the following individuals should be appointed as lay members -

 Mr. Maurice Adrian des Forges

 Mrs. Sharon Eddie

 Mr. Robin Charles Hacquoil

 Mr. Graham Edward Jennings

 Captain Brian James Stuart Nibbs

 Mrs. Pamela Margaret Nisbet

 Mr. Alfred David John Rosser

It is proposed that this report and proposition should be lodged ‘au Greffe’ on or before 22nd May for consideration by the States on 5th June 2007. These appointments would run for a period of five years and would take effect from the date of the States decision.

Resource implications:

Administrative support to the disciplinary panel and committees will be provided by the Law Society of Jersey. The lay members will be working in an honorary capacity, and there will therefore not be any resource implications for the States of Jersey, as confirmed below -

Financial: Nil

Manpower: Nil

Property: Nil

ICT: Nil

Law Drafting: Nil

J.M.E. Harris,

Policy Adviser

8th May 2007