Trevor Routledge

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

Trevor Routledge, a non-solicitor employed as a conveyancing manager at Hannay & Hannay, misappropriated £2,490 of clients' funds by overcharging 90 clients on Land Registry fees and retaining the refunds, including using client funds for his own remortgage. His employment was terminated in September 1995. The Tribunal found he had pursued a dishonest course of conduct and stolen clients' monies, abusing his position of trust. It made a Section 43 order restricting his employment in the solicitors' profession without Law Society permission, and ordered him to pay costs of £410.71.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money

Aggravating factors:

• Abuse of position of trust
• Theft of clients' monies
• Systematic dishonest scheme involving overcharging and diverting refunds

Mitigating factors:

• Respondent admitted his financial irregularities
• Full restitution made by the partners