Solicitors

Two solicitors have been jailed for a total of six years and one month for their part in committing a fraud and perverting the course of justice in bringing a £20,000 breach of contract claim against a former employee. One of the giveaways was that the Law Society copyright at the foot of each page was incorrect.

A Sussex solicitor lost in a “fog of confusion” over a failed multi-million pound investment scheme has been fined £50,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, one of the highest individual fines it has handed out. It found that despite being a “very experienced solicitor” and former law lecturer, her “primary failings” had been incompetence.

Solicitors have been warned about what they say in emails and on social media in both their professional and personal lives, in the wake of an increase in reports about offensive and inappropriate posts. Just last week, we reported on a solicitor who was sanctioned for “violent” anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist comments he made on Facebook.

The High Court has rejected a challenge by two solicitors to an intervention into a south London law firm which was accused by a judge last year of making “largely dishonest” claims for unpaid fees. The SRA has now referred them to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to face multiple allegations.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has banned a series of non-solicitor fee-earners from working in the profession in the wake of one faking a document after missing a court deadline, and two being convicted of fraud. Under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974, they cannot be involved in an SRA-regulated firm without its permission.

A family lawyer found to have fabricated and backdated letters across of host of cases – including child contact and domestic violence matters – has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. It said “significant harm” had been done to the reputation of the profession and of her firm, Bridge McFarland.

A “disgraceful” solicitor has been struck off after taking around £250,000 from a client under a power of attorney after he had died and also creating false wills for other deceased clients to pay off the legitimate beneficiaries of the first estate. He said the beneficiaries were “hassling” him to distribute money.

Another male solicitor has been rebuked for inappropriate behaviour to a female colleague at his firm’s Christmas party, following two similar incidents last month. The Solicitors Regulation Authority recorded that “whilst intoxicated, he behaved in an inappropriate, physical manner towards a female employee”.

A solicitor who wrote on Facebook that it was a shame a plane carrying Jewish refugees had not blown up has been handed a 12-month suspension and £25,000 fine after the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found his “despicable” comments to be anti-Semitic. However, the suspension of Majid Mahmood has itself been suspended for a year.

A retired, non-practising solicitor who helped “friends and acquaintances” with legal matters but misled third parties into believing that he was still in practice has given an undertaking to the Solicitors Regulation Authority that he will not repeat his misconduct. He was also rebuked and fined £500.