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discipline 3 October 2026

The duty in context

Report serious misconduct of others profession

The lawyer must report to the regulator serious or dishonest misconduct by another regulated person where they have reasonable grounds to believe it occurred, subject to confidentiality.

352 cases 59% strike-off avg suspension 19.9 mo avg fine 72,965 144 with dishonesty finding

How the codes express this duty

E&W Solicitors SRA Principles & Code CCS 7.7; CCS 7.8 strong 195 cases
7.7 You report promptly to the SRA or another approved regulator, as appropriate, any facts or matters that you reasonably believe are capable of amounting to a serious breach of their regulatory arrangements by any person regulated by them (including you). 7.8 Notwithstanding paragraph 7.7, you inform the SRA promptly of any facts or matters that you reasonably believe should be brought to its attention ...
E&W Barristers BSB Handbook rC66; gC98; gC98A strong 27 cases
rC66 requires a report to the BSB where there are reasonable grounds to believe specified regulated persons committed serious misconduct, subject to confidentiality and rC67-rC68. gC98 explains the reasonable-grounds threshold. For alleged serious bullying, harassment or sexual harassment, gC98A permits reporting either to the BSB or the Bar Council's Commissioner for Conduct and records the stated subject/confidant enforcement exceptions.
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code 2026 R.13.1(g) partial
subject to the completion of any internal process or reporting, within a recognised law entity, in respect of such matters, may advise the Council where the attorney-at-law has good reason to doubt the professional integrity, or fitness to practise, of an attorney-at-law without prejudice to any restrictions on disclosure provided by statute
AU Solicitors Solicitors' Conduct Rules no clear equivalent
AU Barristers Uniform Barristers Rules no clear equivalent
IE Solicitors Law Society Guide Ch7 — Serious misconduct by another solicitor strong 26 cases
If a solicitor is of the opinion that another solicitor is engaged in serious misconduct, this should be brought to the attention of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority. If this involves disclosure of a client's affairs, the client's consent should be obtained in advance.
IE Barristers Bar Code of Conduct no clear equivalent
JM Attorneys Canons of Professional Ethics Canon I(d) strong 31 cases
An Attorney shall expose without fear or favour before the proper tribunals, unprofessional or dishonest conduct by any other Attorney and shall not lightly refuse a retainer against another Attorney who is alleged to have wronged his client.
JE Lawyers Law Society of Jersey Code R.12.1 h) partial
All members must: ... h) subject to the completion of any internal process or reporting, within his/her firm... advise the Law Society where they have good reason to doubt the professional integrity, or fitness to practise, of a member or legally qualified employee of their firm, without prejudice to any restrictions on disclosure provided by statute.
ON Lawyers LSO Rules of Prof. Conduct r 7.1-3 strong
Unless to do so would be unlawful or would involve a breach of solicitor-client privilege, a lawyer shall report to the Law Society, (a) the misappropriation or misapplication of trust monies; (b) the abandonment of a law or legal services practice; (c) participation in serious criminal activity related to a licensee's practice; (d) conduct that raises a substantial question as to another licensee's honesty, trustworthiness, or competency as a licensee; (e) conduct that raises a substantial question about the licensee's capacity to provide professional services; and (f) any situation where a licensee's clients are likely to be severely prejudiced.
BC Lawyers BC Code r 7.1-3(e) strong 12 cases
Unless to do so would involve a breach of solicitor-client confidentiality or privilege, a lawyer must report to the Society: ... (e) conduct that raises a substantial question as to another lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or competency as a lawyer;
NZ Lawyers Conduct & Client Care Rules r 2.8 strong
Subject to the obligation on a lawyer to protect privileged communications, a lawyer who has reasonable grounds to suspect that another lawyer may have engaged in misconduct must make a confidential report to the Law Society at the earliest opportunity.
SCO Solicitors LSS Standards of Conduct no clear equivalent
SG Lawyers Professional Conduct Rules 2015 no clear equivalent
HK Solicitors Solicitors' Guide Principle 11.03 strong
A solicitor is under a duty to report to the Council, where necessary after having obtained his client's consent, any professional misconduct or dishonesty on the part of another solicitor or a member of his staff, or of any other person purporting to represent or to be in the employment of another solicitor or firm.
HK Barristers Bar Code of Conduct no clear equivalent

Cases dealing with this duty

Clear

352 decisions · link basis: found breached = a tribunal finding; rule cited = the mapped provision is cited in the decision; text match = high-precision text pattern

  • Karl Phillips
    SDT solicitor 9979/2008 2008-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Colin D Poole
    SDT solicitor 10129/2008 2008-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, Others

    Fine, Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Gray, Roger Winchester
    OLSC solicitor Grays Lawyers 2007-06-29 found breached

    1. Breached Section 61(3)(b) Legal Profession Act. 1987 - handling of trust moneys 2. Breached Clause 78 Legal Profession Regulation 2002 - 3. Breached Section 261(1)(b) Legal Profession Act, 2004 - dealing with trust m…

    Suspension of Practising Certificate $0.00 About ​ About the OLSC The Commissioner History Mission statement Structure Contact ​ Contact the OLSC Give us your feedback: online surveys Access to information (GIPAA) Community information ​ Information for lawyers Fact sheets FAQs Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations Contact LawAccess NSW for legal information " You and Your Lawyer", Hot ​​Topics 78 Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW​ , provides access to information about the law in NSW regarding your lawyer Privacy Copyright and Disclaimer Website accessibility View decision
  • 9856-2007 - T A Izzet & Another
    SDT solicitor 9856/2007 2007-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off, Suspend - Fixed Period 1 PDF View decision
  • Malcolm Reginald Brown
    SDT solicitor 9707/2007 2007-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Client Money, Failures, Others

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Joseph Christopher McDermott
    SDT solicitor 9735/2007 2007-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Client Money, Failures, Others

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Judith Ihekerenma Nwokoro
    SDT solicitor 9772/2007 2007-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, Others

    Suspend - Indefinite 1 PDF View decision
  • Christopher Elliot Cleaver Thomas
    SDT solicitor 9755/2007 2007-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, Others

    Suspend - Indefinite 1 PDF View decision
  • Alan Monro Simpson
    SSDT solicitor Alan Monro Simpson, 48 Thomson Drive, Bearsden, Glasgow 2006-05-04 found breached
    strike_off No Appeal 1 PDF View decision
  • E.H. Williams
    GLC attorney 175 of 2002 2006-01-14 found breached

    Struck off, Restitution ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered January 14, 2006. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE COMPLAINT NO. 175/2002 CARLENE PETERS COMPLAINANT E.H.WILLIAMS RESPONDENT - A…

    Struck off, Restitution ordered 1 PDF View decision
  • Guy Blackwood
    SDT solicitor 9520/2006 2006-01-01 found breached

    Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Imran Karim, Saira Karim & Shamim Akktar Karim
    SDT solicitor 9450/2006 2006-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, Others

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • U Bajela, C Collison, S Tackie-Oblie, F Anafi
    SDT solicitor 9400 2006-01-01 found breached

    Client Money, Criminal Convictions, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Folashade Mojisola Olowu
    SDT solicitor 9399/2006 2006-01-01 found breached

    Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Suspend - Indefinite 1 PDF View decision
  • I P Bell & Another
    SDT solicitor 9535/2006 2006-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Fine, Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Wishwa Ellepola
    SDT solicitor 9505/2006 2006-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Client Money, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, Others

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Joyce F Benson & Edward A C Keazor
    SDT solicitor 9516/2006 2006-01-01 found breached

    Client Money, Criminal Convictions, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, Others

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Kenneth Bentley Van Emden & Another
    SDT solicitor 9465/2006 2006-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, Others

    Reprimand, Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Brian Charles Stuart
    SDT solicitor 9556/2006 2006-01-01 found breached

    Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Yusef Robert Charles Noden
    SDT solicitor 9602/2006 2006-01-01 found breached

    Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, Others

    Suspend - Indefinite 1 PDF View decision
  • Peter John Wheeler
    SDT solicitor 9377/2005 2005-01-01 found breached

    Client Money, Delays, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, Others

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • H Singh and Another
    SDT solicitor 9280/2005 2005-01-01 found breached

    Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules

    Fine, Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Seamus McGuinness
    SDT solicitor 9349/2005 2005-01-01 found breached

    Others

    S.43 Order (clerks) 1 PDF View decision
  • R O Osili and Another
    SDT solicitor 9295/2005 2005-01-01 found breached

    Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, Others

    Reprimand, Strike off 1 PDF View decision
  • Anthony Masters Williamson
    SDT solicitor 9210/2005 2005-01-01 found breached

    Breaches, Failures, Others

    Strike off 1 PDF View decision

Duty classification does not yet cover every jurisdiction (Ontario, New Zealand and Singapore decisions are indexed but not yet duty-classified), so counts here understate those corpora.