337Advance payments for claims

337 Advance payments for claims (1) The law society council may, at its absolute discretion, make payments to a claimant in advance of deciding a claim if satisfied (a) the claim is likely to be allowed; and (b) payment is justified to alleviate hardship. (2) Any payments made in advance are to be taken into account when the claim is decided. (3) Payments under this section are to be made from the fidelity fund. (4) If the claim is disallowed, the amounts paid under this section are recoverable by the law society as a debt owing to the fidelity fund. (5) If the claim is allowed but the amount payable is less than the amount paid under this section, the excess paid under this section is recoverable by the law society as a debt owing to the fidelity fund.