Louis Hardy Charlebois

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

Louis Hardy Charlebois, a sole practitioner admitted in 1999, was struck off the Roll. The Tribunal found he practised without a Practising Certificate or professional indemnity insurance after his certificate expired, failed to renew or provide run-off cover, operated his client account when it should have been closed, and left some £55,000 of a client's funds unaccounted for. He failed to cooperate with a Forensic Investigation inspection, failed to deliver an outstanding Accountant's Report, delayed in registering a client's property purchase, and did not respond to Law Society correspondence. The Respondent admitted the facts but offered no evidence or mitigation beyond noting his bankruptcy and unemployment. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated and held that protection of the public required removal from the Roll. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Handle inadvertently received material
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Diligence and timeliness
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Hold a current practising certificate
• Report serious misconduct of others
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Some £55,000 of client funds remained unaccounted for
• Failed to cooperate with Law Society inspection of accounts
• Practised without Practising Certificate and without indemnity insurance
• Failed to respond to Law Society correspondence
• Could not cope with responsibilities as a solicitor; protection of public required strike off

Mitigating factors:

• Respondent was bankrupt and unemployed
• Offered to work gratuitously to alleviate Law Society's costs