Rachel Parker

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

Rachel Parker, a solicitor in the estate administration team at Buckles Solicitors LLP, repeatedly told clients, colleagues and Barclays Bank between September 2022 and November 2023 that she had submitted Grant of Probate applications and chased the Probate Registry when she had not, across eight client matters. She admitted the allegations including dishonesty (breach of Principle 4). The Tribunal, dealing with the matter on the papers via an agreed outcome, found the dishonest conduct deliberate, calculated and repeated over a year, with no exceptional circumstances. She was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £5,000.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Integrity
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Competence

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty
• Deliberate, calculated and repeated misconduct over more than a year
• Concealment of wrongdoing - did not disclose she had not submitted GOP applications or chased the Registry
• Knew or ought to have known the conduct was a material breach of professional obligations
• Substantial risk of serious harm to clients across at least eight matters

Mitigating factors:

• Prior exemplary regulatory and disciplinary history
• Significant mental health challenges (anxiety/depression) exacerbated by excessive workload and lack of support
• No personal gain sought or obtained
• Cooperation with the SRA and SDT proceedings
• Sincere apology