Mark Shelton STOWER

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

A long-standing Queensland solicitor was found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct (failure to provide client file to costs assessor/client; failure to have trust accounts externally examined) and professional misconduct (two failures to comply with s 443(3) notices from the Legal Services Commissioner). The conduct arose after the sale of his practice amid stress-related illness. No dishonesty was found. He was publicly reprimanded, fined $2,000, restricted to employee-level practice for 2 years should he seek a practising certificate, and ordered to pay $1,500 costs, with 12 months to pay.

Duties found breached:

• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Failure to respond to Legal Services Commissioner notices indicating disregard for requirements of the Act

Mitigating factors:

• Previously unblemished record over long career since 1981
• Severe stress-related illness including chronic anxiety
• Difficulties arising from sale of practice and disorganised storage of files on short notice
• Cooperated with the Commissioner and did not defend the charges
• Files and records subsequently located and delivered
• Poor financial position (reliant on Centrelink)