Sandia Kumari Pamma

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

The Respondent, an experienced immigration solicitor working as a non-practising consultant, falsified a GP sick note taken from another client's file to support an application to adjourn a minor client's asylum appeal for which she had not prepared. She made written adjournment applications to the Immigration & Asylum Chamber on the false basis that her client was ill, misled a Director of her firm by email, and instructed a colleague to attend the hearing and renew the adjournment application using the false sick note. The client attended and confirmed he was not ill and the note was fraudulent. She admitted all four allegations and dishonesty, which the Tribunal found proved beyond reasonable doubt. The Tribunal found no 'exceptional circumstances' under Sharma given the dishonesty extended over three days, but accepted truly compelling personal mitigation (her mental health condition and traumatic personal history) and originally imposed an indefinite suspension plus costs of £7,361.20. On the SRA's appeal to the High Court, that order was set aside by consent and substituted with striking off.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• Honesty
• No taking unfair advantage
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty alleged, admitted and proved
• Misconduct was deliberate and extended over three days
• Involved multiple acts intended to mislead the Court, colleagues and the Firm
• Creation of a false document to mislead a tribunal, close to the top of the seriousness scale
• Respondent was an experienced practitioner (nearly 10 years' post-qualification)
• Breach of trust owed to client, Court and Firm

Mitigating factors:

• Suffering from a moderate depressive episode/post-natal depression at the time, medically supported as unfit for work
• Cumulative series of extremely difficult and traumatic personal experiences (pregnancy complications, miscarriage, family illness)
• Genuine and deep remorse and insight
• Full and frank cooperation and admission from first challenge
• Previously unblemished career
• No financial motivation or profit
• Conduct out of character and no realistic risk of repetition
• Positive character references