Penelope Ann CORBETT

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

The respondent solicitor was found to have engaged in professional misconduct on two charges: failing to attend to the client's interests by not arranging representation at a conveyance settlement (charge 1) and a trust account defalcation of $18,945.55, followed by issuing 29 false receipts to attempt to correct the error (charge 2). Although the excessive transfer may have been an initial error, the Tribunal found the subsequent receipt-issuing explanation rang hollow. No express finding of dishonesty was made, but the Tribunal found she was not a fit and proper person to practise. Her name was ordered removed from the roll and she was ordered to pay the applicant's costs on the standard basis.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Egregious handling of trust monies
• Issuing 29 receipts with no corresponding deposits, apparently to disguise/correct the accounting error
• Conduct struck at the heart of the solicitor-client relationship
• Letter to Law Society of 30 April 2014 did not accurately reflect advice given to clients

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the charges/particulars
• Expressed remorse
• No criminal history
• Personal circumstances: bankruptcy, aged 58, unemployed, reliant on social security
• Not practised since bankruptcy and does not intend to practise
• Self-referred to the Queensland Law Society