Former Irwin Mitchell paralegal banned after SRA found he misled firm and client with false documents
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has barred Paul Gerard, a former senior associate paralegal at Irwin Mitchell LLP, from working in any regulated legal practice without prior approval after finding he acted dishonestly to cover up professional mistakes.
Gerard, whose last known address was in Chesterfield, worked in Irwin Mitchell’s commercial litigation team from November 2005 until his dismissal in August 2021. The SRA’s decision, dated 17 September 2025 and published on 1 October, followed an investigation into his handling of a client matter.
According to the regulator, during 2019 and 2020 Gerard made a series of errors while acting for a client, identified only as Client A. These mistakes, if left unaddressed, would have caused financial loss to the client. Rather than admitting the errors, Gerard fabricated and amended documents in an attempt to mislead both his client and his employer.
The SRA found that his conduct was dishonest and incompatible with ongoing involvement in the legal profession.
An order under Section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed, restricting Gerard from being employed, remunerated, or otherwise involved in any legal practice unless the SRA grants prior written permission. He is also barred from holding ownership or management roles in regulated firms.
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In its decision notice, the regulator said: “Mr Gerard’s conduct was serious because it involved dishonesty and such behaviour risks affecting public trust and confidence in the profession.”
As part of the outcome, Gerard was also ordered to pay £1,350 towards the SRA’s costs.
Irwin Mitchell LLP, headquartered at Riverside East, Millsands, Sheffield, was identified as the firm where Gerard was employed when the misconduct occurred. The SRA made clear that the dishonest conduct was carried out without the firm’s knowledge, and Gerard was dismissed in 2021.
Section 43 orders are among the strongest measures available against non-solicitors. They are used in cases where an individual’s conduct is considered sufficiently serious that unrestricted employment in legal practice would undermine public confidence or risk client interests.
The regulator emphasised that dishonesty remains one of the most serious forms of misconduct in the legal sector, regardless of whether the person involved is a solicitor or a non-qualified member of staff.
By publishing the decision, the SRA reaffirmed its commitment to upholding integrity and accountability across the profession. It also serves as a reminder to legal practices that dishonesty by staff, even in non-qualified roles, can have serious regulatory consequences for the individuals involved.
The Section 43 restrictions against Gerard take immediate effect and will remain in force indefinitely unless the SRA decides to vary or lift them following an application. In practice, this means Gerard cannot return to work in an SRA-regulated law firm without specific approval from the regulator.