Sheila Davenport

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

Sheila Davenport, an unadmitted legal clerk employed by Kaufman & Co, admitted a s43 allegation that she failed to account to her employer for a £1,500 cash payment from a client and prepared legal aid transfer applications to her future employer while still employed by Kaufman & Co. The Tribunal found the allegation proved (admitted) and noted no allegation of dishonesty was made. It granted a s43(2) order restricting her employment in legal practice without Law Society permission, effective 1 December 2010, and ordered her to pay costs of £6,000 (reduced from £12,688.34).

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Failed to account for client fee and kept it for herself
• Intended to take clients with her to new employer, evidenced by bringing forward termination date
• Lack of adequate supervision as an outdoor clerk
• No evidence of actual work carried out for the £1,500 fee
• Missing client file never located

Mitigating factors:

• No allegation of dishonesty
• Admitted the allegation
• Positive character references from members of the Bar
• Long career in the legal profession
• Currently employed under close supervision
• Genuine embarrassment and acceptance of error of judgment