Ms Wilson had been found guilty of conduct unbefitting a solicitor after being convicted of offences of dishonesty and given 60 hours community service. The Law Society appealed against her suspension for twelve months saying that it was inadequate. In committing the offences, she had not done so for her own financial gain. She had been placed under pressure from her practice principal who had refused to ease her workload and who insisted that she personally attend all immigration hearings and conferences. She made false accounting returns, in respect of travel expenses for attendance at conferences and hearings she had not attended, in order that he would not find out she had she had not attended them.
Held: The appeal was allowed, and Ms Wilson was struck off the roll. The starting point for assessing Ms Wilson’s conduct was the decision in Bolton test. Jack J discussed the authorities saying that ‘they emphasise the need to protect the reputation of the profession by expelling dishonest persons from it and emphasising that mitigation personal to the solicitor has little relevance’
Judges:
Lord Justice Keene Mr Justice Jack
Citations:
[2006] EWHC 1022 (Admin)
Links:
Cited by:
Cited – Jideofo v The Law Society; Evans v The Solicitors Regulation Authority 31-Jul-2007
(Master of the Rolls) Each applicant challenged decisions not to allow them to become student members of the Law Society.
Held: The test for character and suitability was a necessarily high one; was one which was not concerned with punishment, . .
Cited – Jideofo v The Law Society; Evans v The Solicitors Regulation Authority 31-Jul-2007
(Master of the Rolls) Each applicant challenged decisions not to allow them to become student members of the Law Society.
Held: The test for character and suitability was a necessarily high one; was one which was not concerned with punishment, . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Legal Professions
Updated: 06 July 2022; Ref: scu.241746