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About the Law Society and its Governance
Only advocates and solicitors of the Royal Court have a right to practise Jersey law pursuant to the Advocates and Solicitors (Jersey) Law 1997, as amended.
The Law Society of Jersey and its Members
The Law Society of Jersey Law 2005 (the "Law") makes provision for the administration of The Law Society of Jersey ("Law Society"), the recognition of legal services bodies and for the disciplinary control of advocates and solicitors of the Royal Court of Jersey.
The Law also had the effect of incorporating The Law Society of Jersey as a body corporate.
The Law is supported by The Law Society of Jersey Bye-Laws 2018 which, amongst other things, set out provisions relating to the internal administration of the membership of the Law Society, and matters to be included in the Law Society's Code of Conduct ("Code of Conduct").
All members of the Law Society are governed by the Code of Conduct, the latest version of which can be found here. Members must observe the provisions of the Code of Conduct, and a breach of the Code may be deemed professional misconduct.
One of the main purposes of the Law is to set out the action to be taken by the Law Society where a complaint is received about one of its members, and how any complaints will be considered.
The Law also gives members of the Law Society who are advocates the power to elect the Bâtonnier (the head of the Island’s Bar), once every three years.
The Law Society is governed by a Committee, elected by members, led by the President of the Law Society
The current President is Advocate Nigel Sanders. Advocate Sanders was elected as the Law Society's 23rd President on 23 April 2024.
Accounts Rules
Members and firms who maintain Client Accounts are required to adhere to The Law Society of Jersey Accounts Rules 2017. Under the Accounts Rules, in relation to the operation of their Client Account, an Accountant's Certificate (under Rule 47) must, without exception, be submitted and received by the Law Society no later than six months after their accounting year end. The accompanying template form of reporting checklist to be completed by the accountant can be found here.
A Member's Report, under Rule 50.1(a), must also be completed and submitted by the firm within six months of the firm's year end, contemporaneously with the Accountant’s Report.
History
Although the Law Society was not incorporated as a statutory body until 2007 when The Law Society of Jersey Law 2005 came into force, it was first established in 1899 to represent the interests of the legal profession.
The Society has been served by 22 Presidents since 1899, as detailed below:
| Past Presidents | Year |
|---|---|
| Theodore Le Gallais | 1899 |
| Charles Malet de Carteret | 1905 |
| Edmund Nicolle | 1914 |
| Maurice Alavoine | 1920 |
| Philip Le Maistre | 1926 |
| Harold Giffard | 1937 |
| Lester Bailhache | 1952 |
| Ralph Voisin | 1956 |
| Lester Bailhache | 1958 |
| Edgar Becquet | 1969 |
| Helier Mourant | 1976 |
| Donald Le Boutillier | 1980 |
| Raoul Lemprière | 1982 |
| Jacques Labesse | 1988 |
| Ken Syvret | 1993 |
| Michael Clapham | 1997 |
| Alan Binnington | 2001 |
| John Bisson | 2005 |
| Charles Thacker | 2008 |
| Timothy Hanson | 2012 |
| Jonathan Speck | 2014 |
| John Kelleher | 2017 |
| Rose Colley | 2020 |