Hilary Rowlands

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

Hilary Rowlands, an accounts clerk (not a solicitor) at Doberman Horsman solicitors, made unauthorised payments to herself totalling £3,232.13 over 25 months, claimed as overtime never authorised or worked. The Tribunal found the allegation that she had dishonestly claimed and paid herself overtime substantiated and made a Section 43 order restricting her employment in the solicitors' profession, plus costs of £499.37. The respondent did not appear but had cooperated and admitted the payments.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage

Aggravating factors:

• Abuse of a position of trust
• Payments made over a prolonged period of 25 months

Mitigating factors:

• Respondent was entirely co-operative with the disciplinary proceedings
• Admitted the unauthorised payments when confronted by the partners
• Confirmed she did not intend to seek work in a solicitors' office again