Elizabeth Thomson

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

Elizabeth Thomson, a solicitor admitted in 2003 and partner in a conveyancing firm, was convicted in April 2023 of drink-driving (100mg/100ml breath), driving without due care and attention, and two counts of failing to stop after collisions arising from an incident on 5 November 2022, for which she received a 12-week suspended custodial sentence, 80 hours unpaid work and a 26-month driving ban. She admitted Allegations 1.1-1.3 (breaches of Principles 2 and 5), which the Tribunal found proved. Allegations 1.4 and 1.5, which alleged she misled her employer and the SRA about the extent of her convictions (and included allegations of dishonesty under Principle 4), were dismissed in their entirety; the Tribunal found her a wholly credible and honest witness, found no dishonesty, and found the firm's partners had failed to take her convictions seriously. She was fined £17,500 (level 4) and ordered to pay £2,500 costs (reduced because the SRA was not justified in pursuing the Rule 14 allegations).

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Misconduct involved the commission of a criminal offence
• Conduct was deliberate
• High level of alcohol (100mg per 100ml breath, 185% over the limit)
• Two collisions with other vehicles and failure to stop
• Serious risk to public safety - could have killed or seriously injured others
• Highly experienced solicitor who should have known better

Mitigating factors:

• One-off event in a long and otherwise unblemished 20-year career
• Genuine insight and prompt full admission of Allegations 1.1-1.3
• Open and frank self-report to the Firm and the SRA
• Genuine remorse and apology; full acceptance of responsibility
• No previous disciplinary matters
• Good character evidence from witnesses
• No longer poses a risk to the public