John Simon Baskerville Hopton

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

The respondent, admitted 1966, practised as a solicitor without a practising certificate after his last one expired on 31 October 1988, remaining uncertificated for around four and a half years and continuing even during the hearing. He admitted the allegation of conduct unbefitting a solicitor and did not attend. Despite his age and long service and only limited prior discipline (a 1987 fine), the Tribunal found the matter serious given his failure to remedy the situation. No express finding of dishonesty was made. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £940 (also referred to as £904).

Duties found breached:

• Hold a current practising certificate

Aggravating factors:

• Uncertificated for around four and a half years
• Continued in uncertificated practice even while the Tribunal was sitting
• Had ample opportunity after Law Society correspondence to remedy but allowed matter to drift
• Expressed no serious intention of remedying the situation
• Set his face against becoming certificated
• Did not attend hearing so as not to lose a day's uncertificated work
• Prior 1987 disciplinary finding (delay and providing false/misleading information to clients), fined £1,000

Mitigating factors:

• Age (60) and long service to the profession
• No complaint about his conduct other than the present matter and the 1987 matter
• Admitted the allegation
• Financial difficulty affording a practising certificate and difficulty obtaining referees