Kashine Taylor worked for nearly a month as a solicitor despite never being admitted to the roll
A law graduate who practised as a solicitor without being legally qualified has been banned from the profession, after regulators ruled her actions were dishonest and misleading.
Kashine Taylor, of Nottingham, began work as a solicitor at Derbyshire County Council on 3 March 2024, and continued in that role until 27 March, despite not being admitted to the Roll of Solicitors—a crucial legal step before practising.
Although Taylor had completed her training contract, she lacked a practising certificate and had not been formally admitted to the profession. Yet, she accepted a job and carried out duties under the false title of solicitor for nearly a month, misleading both the council and a previous employer about her status.
Taylor blamed the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for the mix-up, claiming she had not received her certificate by email. But investigations revealed that she had not submitted the necessary application to be admitted to the Roll—a prerequisite to obtaining a practising certificate.
To compound the deception, she had made similar claims before. While applying for a job at Eliot Mather LLP, she again pointed fingers at the SRA for failing to issue her certificate, when in fact she had simply failed to apply for admission altogether.
The SRA’s report was damning. It found that Taylor “knew she was unqualified” yet chose to act as a solicitor regardless. Her conduct was ruled “dishonest”, and she was deemed “undesirable” for future employment in any SRA-regulated legal practice without prior written approval.
In line with this, the regulator imposed a section 43 order, effectively banning Taylor from legal practice unless granted explicit permission by the SRA. The order prevents solicitors and firms regulated by the SRA from employing her in any capacity involving legal practice.
Embed from Getty ImagesTaylor has not contested the decision. Sources suggest she is now retraining as a legal costs draftsperson, stepping away from the conventional solicitor pathway following the scandal.
The legal community has reacted with a mixture of bemusement and concern. A sarcastic comment on one legal news platform noted she was “an improvement on their last hire, who turned out to be 11,” highlighting the degree of scrutiny or lack thereof, sometimes involved in legal hiring processes.
While the episode might appear to some as a careless error, the SRA viewed it as a serious breach of trust in a profession that demands the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
The case also underlines the importance of regulatory diligence—not only from aspiring solicitors, but also from public sector employers and law firms when verifying qualifications and compliance.
Aspiring lawyers are typically required to:
- Complete a qualifying law degree or conversion course.
- Pass the Legal Practice Course or Solicitors Qualifying Examination.
- Complete a training contract or equivalent period of recognised training.
- Apply for admission to the Roll of Solicitors.
- Apply separately for a Practising Certificate, issued annually by the SRA.
Failure to complete any of these steps means an individual cannot lawfully act as a solicitor, regardless of experience or training.
As of now, Taylor’s legal career appears to be on indefinite hold, her missteps serving as a cautionary tale for others entering the profession.
