Arlene McNaught

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

A trainee solicitor at Backhouse Jones deceived the firm over a prolonged period by falsely claiming her TC8 application for twelve months' good service had been approved, leading the firm to believe she could be admitted in September 2001 rather than 2002. She allowed herself to be held out and charged out as a qualified solicitor, accepted a qualified salary, falsely claimed to have applied for admission and Practising Certificate renewal, and was complicit in a false Form AD1 bearing a forged partner's signature used to secure her admission. She admitted all allegations and dishonesty. The Tribunal found admitted dishonesty over a prolonged period and struck her off the Roll, ordering costs of £2,759.98.

Duties found breached:

• Hold a current practising certificate
• No improper solicitation or touting
• No taking unfair advantage
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Not misrepresent regulated status
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty sustained over a prolonged period
• Betrayed the trust of the partners of her firm
• Caused her firm unwittingly to hold her out to clients as a qualified solicitor
• Deception involving a false/forged instrument relied upon to secure admission

Mitigating factors:

• Difficult personal circumstances referred to in the documents
• Admitted all allegations and did not contest them
• Stated she did not intend to return to practice as a solicitor