Clare Elizabeth Forster

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

The Respondent, a clinical negligence solicitor at Hudgell Solicitors, admitted falsely recording time for tasks not undertaken across four client matters between 8 June and 27 November 2023, including fabricating an IT failure to explain a missing file note. An internal investigation identified approximately 99.9 hours of unsubstantiated time. The Tribunal found dishonesty under the Ivey test, with conduct that was deliberate, repeated and concealed over five months. Although the Respondent had significant mental health difficulties, difficult personal circumstances (including a prolonged abusive relationship) and workplace pressure, and showed insight and remorse with full admissions, the Tribunal found these did not amount to exceptional circumstances to displace the usual sanction. She was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £25,000.

Duties found breached:

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

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty that was deliberate, calculated and repeated across four occasions over approximately five months
• Element of concealment through a false IT-failure explanation for a missing file note
• Maintained a detailed record of false entries indicating methodical and planned conduct
• Knew or ought to have known the conduct was a serious breach of obligations
• Approximately four years' post-qualification experience, sufficient to understand the standards required

Mitigating factors:

• Significant deterioration in mental health supported by a psychiatric report
• Difficult personal circumstances arising from a prolonged abusive relationship
• Significant workplace pressure including an elevated billing target and a PIP
• No third party coercion or deception
• Maintenance of a record of false entries mitigated potential impact on clients; no client suffered actual loss
• Acted against her normal character; showed insight and remorse
• Full and early admissions; did not seek to mislead the regulator
• No personal or financial benefit beyond continued employment and ordinary salary