Case No. UKUT-00295-(IAC)

are protected to the extent compatible with outcomes C1 and C2 and the Core duties. ” The 7 th rule is framed thus: “ The proper administration of justice, access to justice and the best interests of clients are served .” 15. There is a discrete section prescribing specific duties owed to the client. These include the following: “ Clients receive a competent standard of work and service ….. Client’s bests interests are protected and promoted by those acting for them …. Care is taken to ensure that the interests of vulnerable clients are taken into account and their needs are met. ” [Client duties numbers 10, 11 and 14.] Conduct rule 15 provides: “ Your duty to act in the best interests of each client, to provide a competent standard of work and service to each client and to keep the affairs of each client confidential includes the following obligations: (1) You must promote fearlessly and by all proper and lawful means the client’s best interests. (2) You must do so without regard to your own interests or to any consequences to you … ” Conduct rule 17 prescribes “ a duty to consider whether the client’s best interests are served by different legal representation and, if so, to advise the client to that effect ”. 16. As regards solicitors, there are certain material provisions in the Solicitors Regulation Authority “Mandatory Principles”, namely: (i) To uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice (ii) To act with integrity (iii) To not allow your independence to be compromised (iv) To act in the best interests of each client (v) To provide a proper standard of service to your clients. The two professional codes of conduct and ethics are not framed in identical terms. However, I consider their substance, thrust and overarching aims to be materially indistinguishable.