The duty in context
Not mislead third parties or opponents integrity
The lawyer must not knowingly or recklessly make false or misleading statements to opponents, third parties or anyone, and must promptly correct any such statement once aware of it.
How the codes express this duty
E&W Solicitors SRA Principles & Code CCS 1.4 strong 308 cases
1.4 You do not mislead or attempt to mislead your clients, the court or others, either by your own acts or omissions or allowing or being complicit in the acts or omissions of others (including your client).
SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs · 2019 · archived copy · official source ↗
E&W Barristers BSB Handbook rC9.1 strong 16 cases
rC9.1 you must not knowingly or recklessly mislead or attempt to mislead anyone;
BSB Handbook · current · archived copy · official source ↗
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code 2026 R.3.2(a) strong
An attorney-at-law's duty to act with honesty and integrity under P.3 includes the requirement that an attorney-at-law shall — (a) not knowingly or recklessly mislead or attempt to mislead anyone
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code of Professional Conduct · 2026 · archived copy
AU Solicitors Solicitors' Conduct Rules Rules 22.1; 22.2 strong 73 cases
22.1 A solicitor must not knowingly make a false or misleading statement to an opponent in relation to the case (including its compromise). 22.2 A solicitor must take all necessary steps to correct any false or misleading statement made by the solicitor to an opponent as soon as possible after the solicitor becomes aware that the statement was false or misleading.
Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules · 2015 (June 2026 compilation) · archived copy · official source ↗
AU Barristers Uniform Barristers Rules rr48-49 strong 22 cases
A barrister must not knowingly make a false statement to an opponent in relation to the case (including its compromise). A barrister must take all necessary steps to correct any false statement in relation to the case made by the barrister to an opponent as soon as possible after the barrister becomes aware that the statement was false.
Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules · 2015 (as amended 14 May 2025) · archived copy · official source ↗
IE Solicitors Law Society Guide Ch1 — Core values: Integrity; Ch6 — Professional standard of conduct strong 13 cases
A solicitor's word must be their bond; they must not mislead, in any respect, the courts or others by their acts or omissions... A solicitor, whether in their professional capacity or otherwise, must not engage in any conduct that is fraudulent, deceitful, or in any way contrary to their position as a solicitor.
Solicitor's Guide to Professional Conduct (Law Society of Ireland) · 4th ed. (2022) · archived copy · official source ↗
IE Barristers Bar Code of Conduct Rule 5.3(a) strong 13 cases
A Barrister shall not knowingly make, procure or countenance the making of any false or misleading statement of fact, whether express or implied, written or parol, with regard to any matter in which that Barrister is engaged, to any Court, other body or to any other party or any representative thereof.
Code of Conduct for the Bar of Ireland · 2024 · archived copy · official source ↗
JM Attorneys Canons of Professional Ethics Canon VI(cc); Canon V(o) partial 7 cases
An Attorney shall not knowingly represent falsely to a Judge, a Court or other tribunal or an official of a Court, or other tribunal, that a particular state of facts exists. ... [V(o)] An Attorney shall not knowingly make a false statement of law or fact.
Legal Profession (Canons of Professional Ethics) Rules · 1978 (principal) · archived copy · official source ↗
JE Lawyers Law Society of Jersey Code R.4.2 a) strong
A member's duty to act with honesty and integrity under P.3 includes the following requirements: Members must: a) not knowingly or recklessly mislead or attempt to mislead anyone.
Law Society of Jersey Code of Conduct · 1 January 2017 · archived copy · official source ↗
ON Lawyers LSO Rules of Prof. Conduct r 3.2-7(a); r 7.2-1 partial
3.2-7 A lawyer shall not (a) knowingly assist in or encourage any dishonesty, fraud, crime, or illegal conduct. [7.2-1: A lawyer shall be courteous, civil, and act in good faith with all persons with whom the lawyer has dealings in the course of their practice.]
Law Society of Ontario — Rules of Professional Conduct · current · archived copy · official source ↗
BC Lawyers BC Code r 2.2-1 partial 16 cases
A lawyer has a duty to carry on the practice of law and discharge all responsibilities to clients, tribunals, the public and other members of the profession honourably and with integrity.
Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia (BC Code) · 2017 · archived copy · official source ↗
NZ Lawyers Conduct & Client Care Rules r 10.9 strong
A lawyer must not engage in conduct that is misleading or deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive anyone on any aspect of the lawyer's practice.
Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 · SR 2008/214 · archived copy · official source ↗
SCO Solicitors LSS Standards of Conduct B1.2 partial 13 cases
You must be trustworthy and act honestly at all times so that your personal integrity is beyond question.
Law Society of Scotland — Practice Rules 2011, Rule B1 (Standards of Conduct) · 2011 · archived copy · official source ↗
SG Lawyers Professional Conduct Rules 2015 r 8 (Conduct in relation to other persons) partial 10 cases
8 Conduct in relation to other persons
Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules 2015 · 2015 · archived copy · official source ↗
HK Solicitors Solicitors' Guide Principle 13.01 / Principle 13.01 Commentary 4 strong
A solicitor must not act, whether in his professional capacity or otherwise, towards anyone in a way which is fraudulent, deceitful or otherwise contrary to his position as a solicitor ... When giving a reference as to character and financial standing, a solicitor must take care to give one that is true. A solicitor may be guilty of professional misconduct and may incur a potential liability where a false or misleading reference is given.
Hong Kong Solicitors' Guide to Professional Conduct (Volume 1) · current · archived copy · official source ↗
HK Barristers Bar Code of Conduct para 10.47(a)-(b) strong
A practising barrister must not knowingly make a false or misleading statement to an opponent in relation to the case. A practising barrister must take all necessary steps to correct any false or misleading statement in relation to the case that has been made by him to an opponent as soon as possible after the barrister becomes aware that the statement was false or misleading.
Code of Conduct of the Bar of the Hong Kong SAR · 2018 · archived copy · official source ↗
Cases dealing with this duty
463 decisions · link basis: found breached = a tribunal finding; rule cited = the mapped provision is cited in the decision; text match = high-precision text pattern
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Nigel John Weller
Breaches, Client Money, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2019, SRA Principles 2019
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Natasha Janet Dionne Fairs
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, SRA Principles 2019
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Mitchell Cavanagh
The conduct identified in charge 1 is proved and is found to constitute professional misconduct.
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Alison Clare Banerjee
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, SRA Principles 2019
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Alejandro Emilio Verdu Haro
Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019
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Daniel James Skinner
Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019
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Neil Robert Lawler
OCR198-23 Charges 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 - professional misconduct. OCR050-25 Charges 1 to 4 - professional misconduct
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Charles Michael Stevens
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Failures, Lack of Integrity, SRA Principles 2019
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Fasar Mahmood
Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, Misappropriation of Client Account, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2019, SRA Principles 2011
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Belinda Owusuah Sarkodie
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, SRA Principles 2019
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Rowntree, Bruce Elliott
The findings in Commission of Taxation v Rowntree [2020] FCA 1322, and the orders made in Commission of Taxation v Rowntree (No 3) [2021] FCA 306; The failure to disclose those proceedings in practising certificate appl…
Refusal of grant of practising certificate $0.00 Disciplinary Action View decision -
David William McDermott
Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019
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Ahmed Ajina
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, SRA Principles 2019
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Rashid Ahmad Khan
Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, SRA Principles 2019
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Respondent AM
Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2011, SRA Authorisation Rules, SRA Principles 2019
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John Mark Fitzpatrick
Repeated failures and breaches of Rules relating to the conduct of legal practitioners, including, repeated failures to respond in an adequate and timely manner to requests for information from the Commissioner and the …
Struck off View decision -
Amir Nazir Butt
Breaches, Client Money, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Lack of Integrity, Misappropriation of Client Account, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2011, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019
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Samira Mohamed Seth
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Failures, Recklessness, SRA Principles 2019
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Peter Kenneth Felton Gerber
Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Lack of Integrity, Recklessness, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019
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Benjamin David Tisdall
Breaches, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019
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Niranjana Patel
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, SRA Principles 2019
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Rachael Catherine Worthington
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Failures, Lack of Integrity, SRA Principles 2019
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Aymer Jan Patrick Hutton
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, SRA Principles 2019
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Matthew Roy Church
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, SRA Principles 2019
Duty classification does not yet cover every jurisdiction (Ontario, New Zealand and Singapore decisions are indexed but not yet duty-classified), so counts here understate those corpora.