Victoria Emma Craig

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

The Respondent, sole director of an intervened firm and later employed solicitor, was found to have acted dishonestly by failing to disclose to her new employer that her practising certificate had been suspended, and continued to practise without a certificate. She also committed multiple Accounts Rules breaches (failing to keep proper accounting records, retaining a mixed payment of £5,855 in office account, failing to produce documents) and failed to engage with the SRA, including failing to comply with a Section 44B notice. The Tribunal found all allegations proved beyond reasonable doubt, including express dishonesty under the Twinsectra test. She did not attend the hearing. Given the dishonesty and absence of exceptional circumstances, she was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £9,500.

Duties found breached:

• Proper termination and return of instructions
• Handle inadvertently received material
• Segregate client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Hold a current practising certificate
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Proven dishonesty which was deliberate, calculated and continued over a period of time
• Motivated by personal financial gain (desire to retain employment)
• Placed own interests above those of employer and clients
• Caused harm to the reputation of the profession
• Knew conduct breached obligations to protect public and profession

Mitigating factors:

• Previously unblemished career
• Relatively inexperienced solicitor