Law Society-v-Jane Elizabeth Steer
Interlocutor
Edinburgh 16 August 2016. The Tribunal having considered the Complaint dated 31 May 2016 at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Jane Elizabeth Steer, Messrs Allan McDougall, 3 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh as amended; Find the Respondent guilty of professional misconduct in respect of her failure to act with trust and personal integrity in connection with the preparation of an affidavit which she purported to notarise on 29 October 2012, submission to the court for lodging an affidavit which contained false or misleading information on 5 November 2012 and subsequent failure on 29 June 2014 to provide a full and candid explanation to the Law Society in connection with the preparation of the affidavit and its sending to the Secondary Complainer; Censure the Respondent; Find the Respondent liable in the expenses of the Complainers and of the Tribunal including expenses of the Clerk, chargeable on a time and line basis as the same may be taxed by the Auditor of the Court of Session on an agent and client, client paying basis in terms of Chapter Three of the last published Law Society’s Table of Fees for general business with a unit rate of £14.00; and Direct that publicity will be given to this decision and that this publicity should include the name of the Respondent.
Alan McDonald
Vice Chairman
Compensation Interlocutor:
Edinburgh 11 January 2017. The Tribunal having considered the Complaint at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Jane Elizabeth Steer, Messrs Allan McDougall, 3 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh and having previously determined that the Respondent was guilty of professional misconduct, Find that the Secondary Complainer has been directly affected by the Respondent's misconduct and considered that it was appropriate to award compensation to the Secondary Complainer: Ordain the Respondent in terms of Section 53(2)(bb) of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 to pay to Sharon McAllister, 3 Michael Bruce Court, Forestmill, Clackmannanshire £700 by way of compensation in respect of inconvenience and distress resulting from the misconduct within 28 days of the date on which this Interlocutor becomes final with interest at the rate of 8% per annum from the due date until paid; Find the Respondent liable in the expenses of the Secondary Complainer to the extent of £50 and of the Tribunal including expenses of the Clerk, chargeable on a time and line basis as the same may be taxed by the Auditor of the Court of Session on an agent and client, client paying basis in terms of Chapter Three of the last published Law Society’s Table of Fees for general business with a unit rate of £14.00; and Direct that publicity will be given to this decision and that this publicity should include the name of the Respondent.
Alistair Cockburn
Vice Chairman