QUESTION OF ETHICSQ I defended a client on a criminal charge.

After he was convicted, he instructed other solicitors.

I sent them my original papers, keeping copies for myself as recommended in note 3 to principle 29.09 in the Guide to the Professional Conduct of Solicitors, 1999, eighth edition.

The client has now instructed a third set of solicitors to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights.

This third firm has had difficulty getting papers from the second firm and has approached me for copies of the documents on my copy file.

Can I charge the third firm for producing the copy documents?A Yes.

When you copied your original file, you did this for your own benefit and protection and did not charge the client or the successor firm.

Accordingly, you can now charge the third firm for the copy documents you are producing at their request.

This is confirmed by note 6(c) to principle 18.01 in the guide.

This states that, where a solicitor asks another solicitor to supply copies of documents, there is a professional obligation to pay a proper charge for them.Please noteInvestment BusinessOn 1 December 2001 the Financial Services Authority became the sole regulator under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

Most law firms that were previously doing non-discrete investment business only will not need authorisation under the new Act.

Such firms will automatically be covered by the Law Society's status as a designated professional body, no application to the Law Society is required.

All firms should have deleted from their notepaper any statement about authorisation or regulation by the Law Society in the conduct of investment business.l Question of ethics is compiled by the Law Society's professional ethics guidance team.

Send questions for publication to Austin O'Malley, the Law Society, Ipsley Court, Berrington Close, Redditch B98 0TD; DX 19114 Redditch; tel: 020 7242 1222.