Section 27 of the Act of 1926 is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (4):

"(4) No person shall be appointed under this section to be a Deputy Master of the High Court unless at the time of his or her appointment he or she -

(a) possesses the qualifications required by paragraph 17(a) of the Eighth Schedule to the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 for appointment as Master of the High Court,

(b) is a member of the staff of the Courts Service who is serving or has served in an office or offices established under Part I of this Act and who -

(i) is -

(I) a qualified barrister within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, or

(II) a person who has been admitted as a solicitor and whose name is on the roll of solicitors (which shall be construed in accordance with section 9 of the Solicitors Act 1954),

or

(ii) at any time prior to his or her appointment as Deputy Master has been employed for a period of not less than nine years, or for periods together totalling not less than nine years, in an office or offices established under Part I of this Act,

or

(c) is a member of the staff of the Courts Service who holds such other qualification or qualifications as the Courts Service, with the consent of the President of the High Court, determines to be appropriate for such appointment.".