SSDT Annual Report 2019

Annual Report 2019

According to the latest Annual Report from the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal, the Tribunal heard and made decisions on forty cases in 2019.  There were twenty-nine findings of professional misconduct and one decision under section 53(1)(b) of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980.  Three solicitors were found not guilty.  In one of these, the Tribunal remitted the complaint to the Law Society under section 53ZA of the 1980 Act.  The Tribunal also dealt with seven appeal cases under section 42ZA of the 1980 Act.

Five solicitors were struck off and can no longer practise. This is the most serious sanction the Tribunal can impose.  Two were suspended.  Others were censured, fined and/or made the subject of restricted practising certificates.  Compensation was awarded in nine cases.

The main grounds for solicitors’ misconduct included failure to comply with the Accounts Rules and/or Practice Rules, delay in dealing with matters and misleading or failing to reply to the Law Society or others.

The report can be read on the SSDT website here.