Professional Discipline Solicitors

Many professions are governed by an official body which can investigate its members for alleged breaches of regulation and instigate disciplinary proceedings based on the findings. Our specialist professional regulation & discipline solicitors can advise and defend you or your business if you are subject to an investigation or disciplinary action.

Registration with a regulatory body is vital to several professions and many can't practice at all without it. A governing body can revoke your registration or licence if it finds that you have breached its regulations or that you are no longer fit to practice. We can help a variety of professionals defend against such allegations, such as:

Solicitors
Doctors
Dentists
Pharmacists
Nurses
Psychologists
Social workers
Financial advisors

Regulatory and disciplinary investigations can be extremely damaging and disruptive to your career or business regardless of the outcome. By representing you throughout the process, we can reduce the impact to your livelihood and professional reputation. We can defend you at tribunals and hearings and appeal to judicial review if you have been treated unfairly at any point.

Our dedicated team of professional regulation and discipline lawyers will defend you every step of the way and work with you to prove your fitness to practice as quickly as possible. Contact our team online or call us on 0800 028 1943 to find out more.

Experience with a wide variety of professional bodies

Skilled negotiators and mediators

Proven track record at judicial review

Offices around the country

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Meet Our Team

Professional Regulation And Discipline - More Information

- Which Professional Bodies Can You Help With?
- At Irwin Mitchell, our team is well-resourced to advise our clients in relation to investigations by professional bodies including:
  - Solicitors' Regulatory Authority (SRA)
  - Bar Standards Board (BSB)
  - Accountancy & Actuarial Discipline Board (AADB)
  - Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accounting (CIPFA)
  - Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
  - London Metal Exchange (LME)
  - General Medical Council (GMC)
  - General Optical Council (GOC)
  - General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
  - General Chiropractic Council (GCC)
  - General Dental Council (GDC)
  - Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
  - Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
  - Healthcare Professionals Council (HPC)
  - Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
  - National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL)
  - Pensions Regulator
  If you are under investigation or prosecution from one of these bodies or any others, please contact us for more information.
- What Happens In A Regulatory Or Disciplinary Investigation?
- An investigation takes place if concerns are raised about your fitness to practice within your field. Each professional body will have its own specific processes, but most will follow this general profile:
  - The regulator assesses whether the allegation concerns your fitness to practice or involves a breach of its code of conduct.
  - The regulator carries out initial enquiries. It will inform you of this in writing and invite you to respond - but there is no obligation to do so.
  - The investigation starts with the regulator taking witness statements, collecting evidence and liaising with the relevant parties. The regulator will keep you up to date with their progress.
  - Once the investigation has been completed, you will be given a set period within which to give a written response to the findings.
  - Paperwork from both sides will be reviewed the regulator will decide whether you need to be sent to a hearing or tribunal.
  We can help you defend your position during the investigation or at a hearing or tribunal. We can even challenge a tribunal decision at judicial review where necessary. Get in touch with our team for a free initial consultation.
- At What Point Do I Need Legal Advice?
- A regulatory or disciplinary investigation can have a serious impact for your career or business even if prosecution does not take place. It is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible so we can help mitigate the damaging effects of any complaint.
  
  On a basic level, an investigation is likely to disrupt your day-to-day business as you deal with the investigation, attend interviews and provide documentation. The stress and anxiety of defending against an investigation can also interfere with your work. We can help lessen the load and resolve matters quickly so the investigation has a reduced impact on your working life.
  
  An investigation can also damage your reputation within your industry. By getting in touch with us early, our expert solicitors can discreetly intervene to minimize the profile of the investigation and resolve matters before too much damage is done.
  
  If you are anticipating an investigation or have received confirmation that you are the subject of disciplinary proceedings, call us today on 0800 028 1943 to find out how we can help.
- What Costs Are Involved?
- Costs vary from case to case but our prices are competitive and we always work to settle matters as quickly as possible to keep your costs down.
  
  Many of our clients have Legal Expenses Insurance available to cover or contribute to the cost of legal advice or defence for regulatory and disciplinary cases. We will help you explore this and any other available forms of legal funding to ensure you get the best defence possible.
  
  If you are providing funding yourself, we will always provide a full quote up-front and provide regular costs updates as the case progresses so you are always in the loop. We can offer a variety of billing options such as fixed fees and monthly instalment plans to suit your situation.
  
  If you have any questions about costs or funding, please contact us to find out more.
- Meet The Team
- Our Professional Regulation & Discipline team specialises in regulatory and disciplinary body investigations and associated tribunal hearings. As part of one of the UK's most successful and respected law firms, you can rely on us to offer expert advice and defend your interests at all times.
  
  We understand the importance of your professional registration and the impact losing it could have on your career and livelihood. When you talk to us, we'll get to the root of your concerns and make sure you have access to the best defence possible.
  
  Meet our Professional Regulation & Discipline lawyers

I feel like I've taken on the world and beaten it, not just for me but for everyone else."

Mrs R, Client

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I Choose Irwin Mitchell To Represent Me During Regulatory Or Disciplinary Proceedings?

As one of the UK's largest full-service law firms, we have the expertise and resources necessary to give you the very best defence, whatever your circumstances.

In addition to the legal knowledge of our Professional Regulation & Discipline solicitors, our team also includes accomplished negotiators and mediators who are adept at finding solutions outside the courtroom. We may be able to help you avoid lengthy and costly legal proceedings, minimizing the damage a regulatory dispute could do to your career and professional reputation.

We will still pursue cases as far as possible within the legal system when required. Our Public Law & Human Rights Team have an extensive history of success with challenging public body decisions at judicial review. If your regulatory body has treated you unfairly during an investigation, we can help push your case to the next level.

We understand how important a professional's reputation can be to their career. Regulatory and disciplinary investigations can have a profound effect on someone's standing within their industry even if any allegations are proven to be unfounded. Our Defamation, Libel & Slander specialists can help you if untruthful and malicious allegations have been made against you.

With Irwin Mitchell offices around the country, you are never too far away to get the help and advice you need. Call us today on 0800 028 1943 or contact us online for more information.

What Does Fitness-To-Practice Mean?

Being Fit to Practice means that you have the skills, knowledge and character to effectively practice your profession is a given field. Only people deemed Fit to Practice by their profession's governing body are given the licences or registrations required to practice in that field.

Fitness To Practice primarily involves having the necessary skills and knowledge to safely and successfully complete the tasks demanded of your profession. You may be required to hold certain accredited qualifications and provide evidence of continued learning during your career in order to meet Fitness To Practice standards.

Fitness to Practice also requires you to possess the correct character to conduct your profession effectively and responsibly. This involves your behaviour as a professional, for example, being honest with clients and the governing body. It can also include behaviour in your private life that can affect the reputation of your profession or governing body.

Some regulatory bodies, such those governing medical professions, also require include good health as a requirement for Fitness to Practice.

Each governing body publishes codes of conduct that its members must follow in order to be considered Fit To Practice. If they do not, they may be liable to regulatory investigations or disciplinary proceedings. Contact us today for a free initial consultation to find out more.