Paula Harris

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

The Tribunal, on the papers via an Agreed Outcome, found that Paula Harris had been convicted on 28 August 2018 (on guilty pleas) of three counts of Fraud by Abuse of Position and one count of Making/Supplying articles for use in fraud, arising from her work as a solicitor where she created fraudulent documents (fake judgments) to cover up unprogressed claims, causing a loss of over £15,000. She was criminally sentenced to 8 months' imprisonment suspended for 12 months, 100 hours unpaid work, 30 days rehabilitation activity and a £140 victim surcharge. The Tribunal found the convictions involved dishonesty offences committed within her practice, with high culpability and harm and no exceptional circumstances. She was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £1,825.70.

Duties found breached:

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

Aggravating factors:

• Commission of serious criminal offences involving dishonest abuse of position
• Fraudulent actions across multiple files (12 files, 29 fraudulent documents)
• Misconduct she knew or ought to have known materially breached obligations to uphold administration of justice and protect the reputation of the profession
• High culpability and harm; conduct took place over a period of time within her role as a solicitor
• Loss of over £15,000 caused to the firm/clients

Mitigating factors:

• First appearance before the Tribunal
• Cooperated with the SRA investigation, including notifying the SRA of CPS involvement
• No direct personal financial gain from the offences
• Under significant stress at work and in personal matters, with impact on her health (supported by medical report)
• Pleaded guilty in criminal proceedings