Robert John GOULD

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

The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal found solicitor Robert John Gould guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct (charges 1 and 4 - delay and failure to supervise staff) and professional misconduct (charges 2, 3 and 5 - misleading his client and misleading the Queensland Law Society). While the Tribunal found he misled his client and the Law Society and was at least reckless in his communications, it did not make an express finding of dishonesty. Gould was publicly reprimanded, fined $6,000 payable over 12 months, required to engage Mr Andrew Gardiner to review and implement practice management systems with reporting obligations, and ordered to pay the Commissioner's costs. Compensation order submissions were deferred.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• Competence
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct formed part of a pattern involving delay, failure to supervise across more than one office, and lack of candour with both the client and the regulator
• Failure to keep written records of relevant conversations

Mitigating factors:

• 66 years of age with no previous disciplinary findings over a long career since 1986
• Suffering from burn-out and mild depression, financial pressures, acrimonious divorce and separation at the relevant time, plus effects of the global financial crisis
• Cooperation via Statement of Agreed Facts and admissions to unsatisfactory professional conduct
• Positive client testimonials and volunteer/community legal work
• Had since changed practice focus and been more selective in accepting instructions