The Role of the Legally Qualified Member• To chair Professional Conduct Committee hearings• Issuing pre-trial directions, including the chairing of case-management meetings• Checking that before proceedings commence that all those involved have the correct information• Ensuring that all parties understand the process, and that the proceedings are conducted fairly and in accordance with the Professional Conduct Committee Rules• Providing legal advice to the Panel, and where appropriate sharing that legal advice with the parties involved• Ensuring that all those appearing before the Committee engage with the process as effectively as possible, and that cultural and other extraneous factors are taken into consideration• Supporting Committee members to understand the issues under consideration and to arrive at decisions that are fair, accurate and legally sound• Drafting and announcing the decisions of the Professional Conduct Committee, usually on the day of the hearing, giving full reasons for the decision
Specific aspects of the role include• A qualified solicitor or barrister (or advocate in Scotland), with experience in dealing with the law relating to professional regulation• Experience of chairing tribunal or conduct committee proceedings• Working with stakeholders to ensure that committee proceedings are fair, economic, efficient and effective, reaching clear outcomes that are understood by all• Working with stakeholders to ensure that each case is given appropriate and timely consideration• Upholding the Nolan Principles – the seven ethical principles of public life
The Architects Registration Board (ARB) was established by Parliament in 1997 to regulate the architects’ profession in the UK.
ARB wishes to appoint a legally qualified person to chair hearings of its Professional Conduct Committee, as required by the Architects Act 1997. The Professional Conduct Committee considers allegations of unacceptable professional conduct and serious professional incompetence against architects at public hearings. The appointment will commence from around August 2022
If you are interested in applying for this position, you must:
- be a solicitor registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Law Society of Scotland; or a barrister registered with the Bar Standards Board or the Faculty of Advocates;
- be experienced in chairing tribunals of professional regulators
- have a good knowledge of regulatory law
- display excellent communication skills
- be available for at least 30 days a year
- be willing to travel within the UK
In return, we offer £595 a day for attendance at Committee hearings and training sessions, as well as reasonable expenses for travel and subsistence. All payments are subject to tax and National Insurance.