Md Towhidul Islam

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

The Respondent, a solicitor who in 2019 (before admission) worked simultaneously as a Home Office Executive Officer and a trainee solicitor at Waterstone Legal, admitted misusing the Home Office CRS database by making unauthorised lookups and accessing eight visa application files relating to family members, clients and acquaintances with no legitimate business need (Allegation 1.1), and failing to declare his concurrent employment at Waterstone Legal to the Home Office (Allegation 1.2). Both were admitted on the basis of recklessness and breach of Principles 2 and 6 of the SRA Principles 2011. The SRA withdrew Allegations 1.3 and 1.4 and all dishonesty allegations; no dishonesty was found. The Tribunal assessed moderate-to-high culpability and high harm and, on an agreed outcome, ordered a 12-month suspension followed by a 12-month restriction order with conditions, plus costs of £41,350.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Repeated 'lookups' of eight files, one a live application
• Two applicants were immigration clients of Waterstone Legal
• Highly sensitive Home Office confidential immigration database
• Reckless conduct - ought to have known he lacked authority, risk of conflict, and should have disclosed his WL role
• Occupied a position of trust with access to highly confidential information

Mitigating factors:

• Majority of lookups related to family members and/or closed applications
• No direct impact on any live appeals
• No evidence of loss or direct harm to the Home Office
• Held the Home Office role for a very short period (Aug-Nov 2019)
• Not an admitted solicitor at the time of events
• Conduct took place during a period of significant personal difficulty
• No previous or subsequent disciplinary findings
• Out of character, supported by extensive character evidence
• Full admissions, remorse and insight