Pauline Lesley Butler

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Sole practitioner Pauline Lesley Butler ran a scheme over at least eight years posting false bills to ledgers and improperly transferring client money to her office account to subsidise her failing practice, leaving a minimum client account shortage of GBP 170,620.64. The Tribunal found all three allegations substantiated and found she acted dishonestly on allegations 1 and 2 (Twinsectra test satisfied), noting her own admissions that her conduct was not that of an honest solicitor. She was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of GBP 22,515.97, despite mitigation of medical and financial difficulties.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct continued for at least eight years
• Elaborate/convoluted scheme using false bills to move client funds between ledgers to subsidise office account
• Went to great lengths to cover up her actions
• Minimum cash shortage of GBP 170,620.64 on client account; shortage not replaced
• Large claims on the Compensation Fund (claimed ~GBP 900,000, ~GBP 600,000 paid to date) with possibility of further claims
• Clients suffered as a result of misappropriation

Mitigating factors:

• Significant personal, financial and medical problems
• Suffered from depression for many years (supported by medical reports)
• Provided references and supporting documents
• Made admissions during the SRA investigation