Stephen Richard Picken

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

Stephen Richard Picken, a Queensland solicitor admitted in 1995, falsely attested and certified loan documents, assisting his client in defrauding a third party, and was convicted in 2020 of making false declarations (sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended). QCAT found the conduct amounted to professional misconduct and that he was not a fit and proper person, noting his conduct showed a lack of honesty and integrity. Despite significant mitigating factors, the Tribunal recommended his name be removed from the local roll and ordered him to pay the Commissioner's costs on the standard basis. The respondent did not contest the application or sanction.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Self-report to the regulator
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Criminal conduct committed in the course of legal practice
• Conduct assisted his client in defrauding a third party

Mitigating factors:

• Did not profit personally from the conduct
• Relied on honesty of client when certifying forged signatures
• Cooperated with police investigation
• Early plea of guilty
• Gave evidence at civil trial to assist victim recover her position
• Under considerable stress caring for aged and unwell wife
• Over 40 years of practice with no prior disciplinary or criminal history
• Aged 75
• Eventually cooperated with the discipline process and consented to removal