The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) is an independent statutory body in the UK responsible for adjudicating on alleged breaches of the rules and regulations applicable to solicitors and their firms.
At the SDT, our duty is to maintain the public’s confidence in the reputation of the solicitor profession for honesty, probity, trustworthiness, independence, and integrity.
About Us – Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT)
- Purpose and Role: The SDT’s primary role is to maintain the public’s confidence in the solicitor profession by ensuring that its members adhere to standards of honesty, probity, trustworthiness, independence, and integrity. It handles cases where there might be serious misconduct that could warrant sanctions beyond what the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) can impose, like striking off a solicitor from the roll or imposing unlimited fines.
- Powers and Procedures:
- The Tribunal can impose various sanctions including but not limited to suspension, striking off, unlimited fines, and orders for compensation or costs.
- It operates independently of the SRA, although the SRA refers cases to the SDT when it deems the misconduct serious enough to potentially require sanctions it cannot itself impose.
- Procedures are governed by specific rules like the Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) Rules 2019, ensuring a structured approach to handling cases.
- Referrals and Decision Making:
- The SRA refers cases to the SDT when there’s a realistic prospect of the Tribunal making an order, and it’s in the public interest. This might occur when the misconduct is so severe that only the SDT’s sanctions would suffice, or when there’s a need for a public hearing to address significant issues affecting public confidence in the profession.
- The SDT itself decides whether there’s a case to answer based on the evidence presented, setting a pre-listing day if necessary.
- Public Interest and Accountability:
- The involvement of the SDT often reflects not just on the individual solicitor but also on the broader profession’s reputation. Its decisions are crucial for maintaining high ethical standards and public trust in legal services.
- Critical Examination: While the SDT’s role is to uphold professional standards, discussions online highlight criticisms or concerns regarding its decisions, the fairness of its processes, or its impact on legal practice freedom. However, these discussions should be viewed as part of a broader discourse on legal ethics and accountability rather than definitive critiques of the Tribunal’s operations.
The SDT publishes judgments and recent cases on its website.
Contact the SDT
Court Reception & Offices of the Clerk to the Tribunal
2nd Floor, 45 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7JU
Tel: (020) 7329 4808 / Email: enquiries@solicitorsdt.com
To make a complaint regarding services provided by the SDTAL, email complaints@solicitorsdt.com.
We recommend you should always seek formal legal advice if required, from a qualified and reputable lawyer (solicitor or barrister).
We have a number of links to Free Legal Resources and Legal Organisations on our Free Legal Advice , Legal Aid and Pro Bono pages.
Check out our articles on Solicitors, Mayo Wynne Baxter Solicitors, Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Solicitors from Hell, Barristers, Direct Access Barristers, Bar Standards Board, Bar Council, Law Society, Legal Services Board, Legal Ombudsman, Rule of Law and the highly questionable Sussex Family Justice Board.
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You should always seek formal legal advice from a qualified and reputable lawyer (solicitor or barrister).
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Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal was last updated on the 15th January 2025
