A former solicitor of Weightmans LLP has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal after a series of dishonesty offences.
What Happened?
Jessica Harris (not to be confused with Jessica Kraja) worked for Weightmans as a solicitor, with a specialism in personal injury claims.
At some point a colleague asked her to draft witness statements, and asked her for a progress update.
She claimed to the colleague that she had sent the draft witness statements out, however had failed to do so. She then falsified emails to attempt to show she had sent them.
Upon Weightmans finding out about this course of conduct, they sacked her.
On the same day of her sacking, Harris applied for a job at Capsticks, and “falsely represented the reason for her departure” from Weightmans.
The matter was referred to the Solicitors Regulatory Authority and then the SDT – with the SDT striking Harris off the role.
Opinion
I actually have quite a views on this, and some of them are at odds with each other.
Firstly, having watched the SDT hearing, Harris should be commended for the way she presented her case. She was humble, polite, respectful, accepting of wrongdoing, and ultimately when the decision to strike off was made, accepted it with good grace….. This is in comparison to some of the other idiots that come before the SDT and try to blame everyone else, argue the SRA are some how partisan, seek recusal of the Chair from the Tribunal, etc, etc.
Secondly, on the one hand, Weightmans saw dishonesty and were quick to stamp it out of the firm. That swift action should be commended.
Thirdly (on the other hand), whilst what Harris did was bloody stupid, was it really that bad to dismiss a newly qualified solicitor? Believe it or not, I am on the fence on this. Yes, solicitors are required to be honest and squeakily clean – but on the other hand, this is a newly qualified solicitor who made a mistake that probably happens daily in the outside corporate world and results in a wrap on the knuckles….. I am not saying what she did should be considered acceptable…..but it’s not the same as interfering with the administration of justice, misleading the Court, or causing financial harm to a client.
Fourthly, Weightmans have other problems at a senior level. They have a Partner who repeatedly caused an interference with the administration of justice, and at other times was dishonest with the Court. The same partner seemingly was involved in Weightmans sponsoring a football match hosted by a convicted criminal. Weightmans have also come under fire for multiple data breaches, including falsely making representations to Credit Reference agencies for the purposes of unlawfully obtaining the Credit References of opponents in litigation. None of this has been self-reported to the SRA, and Weightmans head of regulatory, James Holman, appears to be intent on burying his head in the sand about these instances (a lot worse than what Harris has done)….. It is not by coincidence the Parter in question (Damian Carter) brought millions of pounds of legal fees to Weightmans – albeit from the proceeds of crime…… The point I am getting at here, is that Jessica Harris was a junior and newly qualified lawyer who made a silly mistake and was fired instantly – yet a Partner who brings in millions of pounds of fees through a client committing criminal activity, and acted provably in breach of the Solicitors Principles and Code of Conduct is barely given a cursory glance of his work – is really equal treatment?
Fifthly, I don’t disagree with the SDT’s approach or outcome, it was by the book and even though Harris was humble, engaging with the Tribunal and had the humility to say she was “ashamed and embarrassed” of what she did; it is right to kick solicitors out of the profession who behave dishonestly.
