Julie Weekes

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

The Respondent, a solicitor in a probate department who became a salaried partner, forged documents including Letters of Administration and a Grant of Probate to cover up that she had not undertaken certain probate work. She pleaded guilty to seven offences of forgery and one offence of theft and was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years, with supervision and unpaid work. The Tribunal found all three allegations proved by virtue of the conviction, noting the mens rea was dishonesty. Despite mitigation (psychiatric report, no personal gain, full co-operation, early admissions, remorse, insight), the Tribunal found no exceptional circumstances and ordered she be struck off the Roll, plus pay agreed costs of GBP 1,805.63.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Conviction for very serious offences of forgery (seven counts) and theft
• Forged official probate documents including Letters of Administration and a Grant of Probate

Mitigating factors:

• No personal gain derived from her actions
• Pre-existing psychological inability to deal with the situation, per psychiatric report
• Full co-operation with the investigation
• Early admissions
• Genuine remorse and insight into her actions
• Dealt with proceedings in a dignified manner and was moving forward