Michelle Louise Craven

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

Michelle Louise Craven, a trainee solicitor at MLP Law Limited, recorded 20.2 hours (£2,991.50) of time for work not completed on three estate files (GW, HR, LG) between February and May 2018, with narrative descriptions that did not indicate the work was anticipated, leading to six client bills being generated and paid. She was dismissed for gross misconduct in August 2018. The Tribunal found she genuinely intended to complete the work and had been told by a senior colleague (RE) that recording 'anticipated time' was acceptable and to remove the 'anticipated' descriptor. The Tribunal found her a compelling and truthful witness. It found proved breaches of Principles 4 and 5 and Outcome 1.1 (all admitted), but found the alleged breaches of Principles 2 (integrity) and 6 (public trust) and the allegation of dishonesty NOT proved, applying the Ivey test. Given low culpability, low harm and significant mitigation, the Tribunal made no order as to sanction but ordered £3,000 costs (reduced from a £6,567 schedule after discounts for the unsuccessful allegations and the Respondent's limited means).

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No conflict between current clients

Mitigating factors:

• As a trainee the Respondent was guided by senior colleagues
• Genuine insight displayed
• Elected to work as a non-practising solicitor until proceedings concluded
• Cooperated with the Applicant's investigation
• Misconduct was essentially one mistake repeated at a time she was struggling to cope
• Consistent account from when first challenged
• Low culpability with no motive or personal gain
• Genuinely intended to complete the recorded work

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["review_dishonesty_finding_cue_present"]