Richard Charles Strong

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

Richard Charles Strong, an assistant solicitor, admitted forging his principal's signature on a letter to the Law Society, intercepting Law Society correspondence, and misrepresenting the progress of client matters to both principals and clients (including cases that became time-barred). The Tribunal found the allegations, including dishonesty, proved on his own admissions. Despite personal mitigation, he was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £2,500.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No improper communication with the court
• Cease acting on client perjury or disobedience
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct struck at the heart of the trust expected of a solicitor
• Dishonesty involving forgery and repeated misrepresentation to clients and principals
• Eight files with unopened correspondence found at home

Mitigating factors:

• Personal difficulties: father's long illness and death, failure of marriage, depression
• Admitted allegations including dishonesty
• Had not practised as a solicitor since May 2002