Maxmillian Alexander Knowles Campbell

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

Maximillian Alexander Knowles Campbell, a junior solicitor admitted in March 2020 and then an associate at Slaughter & May, admitted dishonesty, lack of integrity and failure to uphold public confidence in connection with a 2022 pupillage application to Erskine Chambers. He falsely stated he had attained a double starred first-class degree and had won the 'Slaughter and May Prize' for best overall performance, and later told a referee he had not made the application and suspected a practical joke. He admitted all allegations and breaches of Principles 2, 4 and 5 and Paragraph 1.4 of the Code. He argued exceptional circumstances based on a major depressive disorder (per Dr Hopley's report), but the Tribunal found the dishonesty was deliberate, sustained and not isolated, with multiple missed opportunities to correct it, and that his mental health did not reduce culpability sufficiently to establish exceptional circumstances. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £6,110.

Duties found breached:

• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• No conflict between current clients
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Deliberate and positive act to gain advantage in selection process
• Sustained course of conduct, not a momentary lapse
• Multiple opportunities to correct the dishonesty (two interviews and communications with referee) but chose not to
• Premeditated and extended over time

Mitigating factors:

• Junior solicitor, admitted March 2020, practising only two years at time of misconduct
• Conduct occurred in context of a proposed career transition
• Self-reported to the SRA shortly after events came to light
• Demonstrated remorse and insight, full admission from the outset
• Cooperated fully with the regulatory process and has not practised since April 2022
• Previously unblemished regulatory record
• Suffering from a major depressive disorder at the relevant time
• Did not seek financial gain or a genuine pupillage placement
• Psychological impact of traumatic events including the murder of a close friend and COVID-19 isolation