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discipline 4 October 2026

The duty in context

Honesty integrity

The lawyer must act with honesty at all times in professional and business dealings and must not engage in fraudulent or deceitful conduct.

2,349 cases 67% strike-off avg suspension 18.6 mo avg fine 9,300 344 with dishonesty finding

How the codes express this duty

E&W Solicitors SRA Principles & Code Principle 4 strong 1,658 cases
You act: 1.4 with honesty.
E&W Barristers BSB Handbook CD3; rC9.1; rC8 strong 130 cases
CD3 You must act with honesty, and with integrity. rC9.1 you must not knowingly or recklessly mislead or attempt to mislead anyone. rC8 You must not do anything which could reasonably be seen by the public to undermine your honesty, integrity (CD3) or independence (CD4).
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code 2026 P.3; R.3.1; R.3.2 strong
Attorneys-at-law shall, at all times, act with honesty and integrity... 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
AU Solicitors Solicitors' Conduct Rules Rule 4.1.2 strong 221 cases
A solicitor must also:... 4.1.2 be honest and courteous in all dealings in the course of legal practice.
AU Barristers Uniform Barristers Rules rr12(a),5(c) strong 78 cases
A barrister must not engage in conduct which is: (a) dishonest or otherwise discreditable to a barrister. ... barristers as specialist advocates in the administration of justice, must act honestly, fairly, skilfully and with competence and diligence.
IE Solicitors Law Society Guide Ch1 — Core values: Honesty; Ch6 — Professional standard of conduct strong 24 cases
This requires solicitors to be honest and forthright in all professional and business relationships... 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 and as an officer of the court.
IE Barristers Bar Code of Conduct Rule 2.3(b) strong 24 cases
It is the duty of Barristers: ... (b) to act at all times with honesty and integrity;
JM Attorneys Canons of Professional Ethics Canon V(o); Canon I(b); Canon IV strong 163 cases
(o) An Attorney shall not knowingly make a false statement of law or fact. ... [I(b)] An Attorney shall at all times maintain the honour and dignity of the profession ... [IV] AN ATTORNEY SHALL ACT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF HIS CLIENT AND REPRESENT HIM HONESTLY, COMPETENTLY AND ZEALOUSLY WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW.
JE Lawyers Law Society of Jersey Code P.3; R.4.2 a) strong
Members must, at all times, act with honesty and integrity... 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.
ON Lawyers LSO Rules of Prof. Conduct r 2.1-1 strong
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.
BC Lawyers BC Code r 2.2-1 strong 31 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.
NZ Lawyers Conduct & Client Care Rules r 10.9 / r 2.4 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. ... A lawyer must not advise a client to engage in conduct that the lawyer knows to be fraudulent or criminal, nor assist any person in an activity that the lawyer knows is fraudulent or criminal.
SCO Solicitors LSS Standards of Conduct B1.2 strong 59 cases
You must be trustworthy and act honestly at all times so that your personal integrity is beyond question.
SG Lawyers Professional Conduct Rules 2015 r 5 (Honesty, competence and diligence) strong 40 cases
5 Honesty, competence and diligence
HK Solicitors Solicitors' Guide Principle 13.01 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, nor must he use his position as a solicitor to take unfair advantage either for himself or another person.
HK Barristers Bar Code of Conduct para 4.1(b)(i) strong
not to engage in conduct (whether in pursuit of his profession or otherwise) which is:- (i) dishonest or otherwise discreditable to a barrister;

Cases dealing with this duty

Clear

2,349 decisions · link basis: found breached = a tribunal finding; rule cited = the mapped provision is cited in the decision; text match = high-precision text pattern

  • Susan Lebreton-Towell
    SDT solicitor 12462/2023 2023-09-22 rule cited

    Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Suspend - Fixed Period 1 PDF View decision
  • Keith Flavell
    SDT solicitor 12349/2022 2023-09-06 found breached text match

    Breaches, Failures

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Charlotte Joy Platt
    SSDT solicitor Charlotte Joy Platt, c/o Inksters Solicitors, 10 Sinclair Street, Thurso 2023-09-06 text match
    conditions No Appeal 1 PDF View decision
  • Michael Ramsay
    SSDT solicitor Michael Ramsay, Ramsay & Co. Solicitors & Estate Agents, 974 Maryhill Road, Maryhill, Glasgow 2023-09-05 text match
    dismissed No Appeal 1 PDF View decision
  • Devandran Karunakaran
    SDT solicitor 12441/2023 2023-08-30 text match

    Breaches, SRA Overseas Principles

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Kelso, Peter Leslie
    OLSC lawyer Australaw Pty Ltd 2023-08-24 text match

    Breach of rule 36.1.2 of the Solicitors' Conduct Rules by failing to ensure that advertising, marketing or promotion in connection with law practice was not misleading or deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive — Unsa…

    Lawyer to undertake and complete further ethics education $0.00 About ​ About the OLSC The Commissioner History Mission statement Structure Contact ​ Contact the OLSC Give us your feedback: online surveys Access to information (GIPAA) Community information ​ Information for lawyers Fact sheets FAQs Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations Contact LawAccess NSW for legal information " You and Your Lawyer", Hot ​​Topics 78 Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW​ , provides access to information about the law in NSW regarding your lawyer Privacy Copyright and Disclaimer Website accessibility View decision
  • Prince Fomba Goba & Waqas Hassan & Syed Rafaqat Hussain & Bright Arrey Arrey-Mbi
    SDT solicitor 12435/2023 2023-08-24 found breached rule cited

    Breaches, Failures

    Allegations not substantiated, Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • George S Ross
    SSDT solicitor George S Ross, represented by Brodies LLP, 58 Morrison Street, Edinburgh 2023-08-22 text match
    reprimand No Appeal 1 PDF View decision
  • Bing Han
    LSC-QLD solicitor Fenson & Co. Lawyers 2023-08-22 found breached

    Guilty of professional misconduct on 1 charge

    Suspended 1 PDF View decision
  • Hon-Ying Amie Tsang
    SDT solicitor 12415/2022 2023-08-17 rule cited

    Breaches, Failures

    Allegations not substantiated 1 PDF View decision
  • Matthew Goldborough
    SDT solicitor 12460/2023 2023-08-17 rule cited

    Breaches, Failures

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Kalvinder Garcha
    SDT solicitor 12456/2023 2023-08-17 text match

    Breaches, Criminal Convictions

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Mohammed Saleem
    SDT solicitor 12390/2022 2023-08-17 rule cited

    Breaches, Failures

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Diana Joan Marten
    SDT solicitor 12465/2023 2023-08-16 rule cited

    Breaches, Failures

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Gary Robert Williams
    SDT solicitor 12468/2023 2023-08-15 rule cited

    Breaches, Failures

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Kirsten Von Wedel
    SDT solicitor 12313/2022 2023-08-09 rule cited

    Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Neelash Mehta
    SDT solicitor 12372/2022 2023-08-03 rule cited

    Breaches, Failures

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Christopher Michael Haddock
    SDT solicitor 12401/2022 2023-08-01 text match

    Breaches, Client Money, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Garth O’Neil Taylor
    GLC attorney 177 of 2022 2023-07-29 rule cited

    Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered July 29, 2023. || Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered September 16, 2023. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF TH…

    Guilty of Professional Misconduct 1 PDF View decision
  • Andrew John Chatterton
    SDT solicitor 12450/2023 2023-07-26 rule cited

    Breaches, Failures

    Fine 1 PDF View decision
  • Mahesh Chouhan
    SDT solicitor 12457/2023 2023-07-20 found breached rule cited

    Breaches, Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Paul Formby
    SDT solicitor 12453/2023 2023-07-11 rule cited

    Breaches, Failures

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Jonah David Michael
    SDT solicitor 12444/2023 2023-07-10 found breached rule cited

    Breaches, Failures

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • William Amo
    SDT solicitor 12433/2023 2023-07-07 rule cited
    Allegations not substantiated 1 PDF View decision
  • Robert Steven Callen
    SDT solicitor 12448/2023 2023-07-07 found breached text match

    Breaches, Failures

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision

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.