Julie Burns

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

Julie Burns, a non-solicitor employed as a part-time locum clerk at French & Co between February 1989 and August 1990 (in fact a member of the Bar), intercepted property registration applications and improperly re-charged/re-mortgaged three properties connected to her, her husband and mother, and obtained monies from friends by deception. She was convicted on her own confession of six counts of obtaining property by deception and sentenced to two years' imprisonment. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated and made the Section 43(2) order sought. The respondent did not appear and did not intend to defend. Due to considerable delay in the file, the applicant did not seek the usual costs order.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations

Aggravating factors:

• Abused her position within a firm of solicitors
• Multiple counts of deception
• Also obtained monies from friends by deception

Mitigating factors:

• Convicted upon her own confession
• Liabilities to Barclays Bank and Lloyds Bank were discharged on sale of the Post Office premises
• No lending institutions pursued claims against the firm