Drunk solicitor AG banned 26 months, hit with £1,000 fine and £2,392 costs

Tribunal fines solicitor £1,000 and costs £2,392 after conviction for alcohol-fuelled driving.

A solicitor has been fined after the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) found she drove while heavily intoxicated, putting lives at risk and tarnishing the reputation of the profession.

Respondent AG, who was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 1994, was convicted of drink-driving in September 2020 after police stopped her erratic vehicle. Tests revealed she had 113 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood – well over the legal limit.

The tribunal heard how police officer PC Mason observed her car veering dangerously from side to side, almost colliding with street furniture. Her speed fluctuated unpredictably and her behaviour behind the wheel made her an obvious danger to others.

When confronted, AG’s eyes appeared glazed, her speech was slurred and she struggled to remain upright. She apologised repeatedly, admitting she had been drinking. After a roadside test confirmed she was over the limit, she was arrested and later charged.

On 22 September 2020, AG pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and was sentenced. The court imposed a 26-month driving ban, an electronically monitored overnight curfew, £90 victim surcharge, and £85 in prosecution costs. The sentence also allowed for a reduction in the ban if she completed an approved rehabilitation course.

The misconduct triggered disciplinary proceedings with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Initially, several allegations were brought, including failure to report the conviction and lack of cooperation during the investigation. However, these were later withdrawn, leaving the focus squarely on the drink-driving offence.

At the SDT hearing on 27 June 2023, the matter was resolved on an agreed outcome between the parties. AG admitted her conduct breached Principle 2 of the SRA Principles 2019, which requires solicitors to act with integrity.

The tribunal noted that the misconduct, though a single episode, was serious. It involved criminal behaviour by a senior solicitor with decades of experience, undermining public trust in the profession. The panel stressed that members of the public would not expect a solicitor to be convicted of such an offence, particularly given the responsibility and trust invested in legal professionals.

Despite recognising AG’s medical issues and her unblemished prior record, the SDT concluded that a financial penalty was necessary. The tribunal determined that the case fell within Fine Band 1 of its sanctions guidance, reflecting low-level but serious misconduct.

Accordingly, AG was ordered to pay a £1,000 fine to the Crown. In addition, she must cover £2,392 in legal costs agreed with the SRA, bringing the total financial penalty to £3,392.

The judgment stressed that while the tribunal usually upholds the principle of open justice, this case was anonymised after medical evidence indicated that publication of AG’s identity could pose a risk to her life and wellbeing. The SDT ruled that protecting her rights under Articles 2 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights outweighed the presumption of full transparency.

Annabel Joester, Head of Legal and Enforcement at the SRA, signed off the agreed outcome. The tribunal confirmed that this resolution was proportionate and in the public interest.

AG has since retired from practice and no longer holds a practising certificate, though her name remains on the Roll of Solicitors. The sanction, while significant, avoids suspension or striking off, recognising the isolated nature of the offence and her previous clean record.

The ruling, dated 14 July 2023, stands as a stark reminder of the consequences when a solicitor’s conduct crosses into criminal behaviour