Statute Details
- Title: Notice under Section 17(5)
- Act Code: RELA1983-N6
- Type: Subsidiary legislation notice (SL notice)
- Status: Current version (as at 27 Mar 2026)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), s 17(5)
- Key Instrument Referenced: 1996 Revised Edition of Subsidiary Legislation of the Legal Profession Act (Cap. 161)
- Commencement / Effective Date (as stated in the notice): 15 January 1996
- Gazette / Notification Reference: G.N. No. S 20/1996
- Legislative History (as shown in the extract): Revised Edition of the Laws Act (1997 RevEd) includes this notice; the notice itself relates to the 1996 Revised Edition of subsidiary legislation
What Is This Legislation About?
This “Notice under Section 17(5)” is not a substantive regulatory instrument that creates new legal duties for lawyers or law practices. Instead, it is an administrative/legal publication notice issued under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act to bring a particular “revised edition” of subsidiary legislation into force on a specified date.
In plain language, the notice tells the legal community that the Law Revision Commissioners have published a consolidated “1996 Revised Edition” of certain subsidiary legislation made under the Legal Profession Act. The notice then appoints a date—15 January 1996—as the date when that revised edition comes into force. The revised edition is intended to incorporate amendments made up to a cut-off date (here, 31 December 1995), so practitioners can rely on a single, updated text rather than tracking multiple amendments across time.
The extract also identifies the specific subsidiary instruments that were included in the 1996 revised edition: (a) the Legal Profession Rules (R 3) and (b) the Legal Profession (Solicitors’ Remuneration) Order (O 1). Accordingly, the notice’s practical effect is to confirm the operative version of those instruments as consolidated in the revised edition.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Authority and purpose under s 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. The notice is grounded in section 17(5) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275). That provision empowers the Law Revision Commissioners to publish revised editions of subsidiary legislation and to specify when those revised editions come into force. The notice therefore functions as the official “switch” date for the revised text.
2. Incorporation of amendments up to a specified cut-off date. The notice states that the Law Revision Commissioners published the “1996 Revised Edition” of subsidiary legislation of the Legal Profession Act, incorporating all amendments made up to 31 December 1995. This is significant for practitioners because it clarifies that the revised edition is not merely a reprint; it is a consolidation that reflects the law as amended through the cut-off date.
3. Identification of the subsidiary instruments covered. The notice expressly lists the instruments included in the revised edition: the Legal Profession Rules (R 3) and the Legal Profession (Solicitors’ Remuneration) Order (O 1). This matters in practice because the Legal Profession Rules govern professional conduct and procedural/administrative requirements for legal practitioners, while the Solicitors’ Remuneration Order addresses the framework for remuneration. The notice confirms that the operative versions of these instruments are those contained in the revised edition.
4. Appointment of the commencement date for the revised edition. The operative statement is that the Law Revision Commissioners have appointed 15 January 1996 as the date the 1996 revised edition of subsidiary legislation shall come into force. For practitioners, this is the key “effective date” point: it determines from when the consolidated text is authoritative. Even where substantive rules remain unchanged, the revised edition can affect how practitioners locate and interpret the law, including numbering, cross-references, and formatting.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a formal notice rather than a multi-part regulatory statute. The extract shows typical elements of a legislative notice: a heading (“Notice under Section 17(5)”), a status indicator (current version), and then an enacting formula that explains the legal basis and the factual background.
In substance, the notice contains three functional components:
(i) Whereas statements that describe the publication of the revised edition and its scope (including the specific subsidiary instruments and the amendment cut-off date);
(ii) the “Now, therefore” operative clause that appoints the commencement date; and
(iii) publication metadata (e.g., G.N. No. S 20/1996 and the revised edition context shown in the timeline).
Although the extract does not show numbered sections beyond the reference to s 17(5), the notice’s legal effect is clear: it is the official commencement notice for a revised edition of subsidiary legislation under the Legal Profession Act.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The notice itself applies to the legal community in a broad sense—particularly those who need to know the operative text of subsidiary legislation under the Legal Profession Act. While the notice does not impose duties directly, it determines which consolidated version of the Legal Profession Rules and the Solicitors’ Remuneration Order is in force from the appointed date.
Accordingly, the practical “audience” includes solicitors and law practices, as well as legal compliance officers, professional conduct teams, and litigators who rely on the rules governing practice and remuneration. Courts and tribunals also benefit because they can cite the correct version of the subsidiary legislation when applying professional rules.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though this notice is procedural and publication-focused, it is important for legal practice because it affects certainty of the applicable legal text. In legal work, the precise version of rules matters: numbering, cross-references, and sometimes substantive changes can be introduced through amendments that are consolidated into a revised edition. By confirming the commencement date of the revised edition, the notice helps practitioners avoid relying on outdated or superseded versions.
For practitioners dealing with professional obligations, remuneration disputes, or procedural compliance, the Legal Profession Rules and the Solicitors’ Remuneration Order are frequently cited and relied upon. The notice therefore supports accurate legal research and drafting by anchoring the operative text to a known date: 15 January 1996 for the 1996 revised edition.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the notice also supports consistent application. Regulators, disciplinary bodies, and courts typically apply the law as it stood at the relevant time. A revised edition commencement notice helps clarify when the consolidated rules became the authoritative reference point, which can be crucial when assessing conduct occurring around the transition period.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), s 17(5)
- Legal Profession Act (Cap. 161)
- Legal Profession Rules (R 3) — subsidiary legislation referenced in the notice
- Legal Profession (Solicitors’ Remuneration) Order (O 1) — subsidiary legislation referenced in the notice
- Timeline / Legislation history materials (as referenced in the extract, including the revised edition context)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Notice under Section 17 (5) for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.