Hazel Mann

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

Hazel Mann, an unqualified clerk, obtained an assistant family solicitor post at Bennett & Ryan by submitting a misleading CV (referencing 'retraining as a solicitor' and articles) in response to an advertisement for a solicitor, without disclosing she was not qualified. She worked three months before the firm discovered she was not a solicitor, whereupon she resigned. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated on the basis of recklessness (no express finding of dishonesty), and made a Section 43 Order restricting her future employment in the profession, ordering her to pay costs of £4,540.96.

Duties found breached:

• Personal probity and fitness to practise
• No unlawful discrimination or harassment
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Mitigating factors:

• Admission and acceptance of the Section 43 Order
• Conduct found to be reckless and CV inadvertently misleading rather than deliberate/dishonest
• Resigned when unqualified status came to light
• Expressed embarrassment and distress; apologised for absence