Tania Ruby Bains

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

Tania Ruby Bains submitted a 2011 training contract application to Weightmans containing inflated/fabricated academic grades and subjects she had not studied, and in 2015 submitted a CV to a recruitment agency (for DLA Piper) with false academic qualifications and work experience copied from two colleagues' CVs. The Tribunal found both allegations proved beyond reasonable doubt, expressly finding dishonesty (applying Ivey v Genting) on both occasions, as well as breaches of integrity and public trust. Finding no exceptional circumstances (SRA v Sharma) and lacking confidence the conduct would not be repeated, the Tribunal struck her off the Roll and ordered costs of £6,000 (reduced from £11,500 assessed, taking account of her means).

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Acted dishonestly on two occasions, first in 2011 and then again in 2015
• Conduct was deliberate, calculated and repeated
• Concealed behaviour from both employers (did not correct Weightmans application; did not inform DLA Piper until after concerns raised)
• Ought reasonably to have known conduct breached obligations to protect the public and reputation of the profession
• Conduct impacted employers and other unsuccessful candidates who may have been better qualified

Mitigating factors:

• Some insight shown as she advised junior colleagues not to behave the same way
• Number of good character references
• Cooperated with regulator and proceedings
• Accepted the facts of the case