Solicitor Marveen Smith was rebuked by the SRA after conviction for driving over the alcohol limit
A solicitor has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) following a conviction for driving with excess alcohol, which the regulator found breached professional standards.
Marveen Smith, a solicitor and director at Painsmith Solicitors Limited, received the rebuke under an SRA sanction decision dated 18 December 2025. The outcome was published on 29 January 2026 and was reached following an internal SRA decision, rather than by agreement.
The SRA also ordered Ms Smith to pay £600 towards the costs of its investigation. The regulator confirmed that the rebuke would be published in line with its regulatory and disciplinary rules.
Ms Smith was practising at Painsmith Solicitors Limited, a recognised body based at 1 Mansfield Business Park, Lymington Bottom Road, Medstead, Alton, GU34 5PZ, at the time of publication.
The disciplinary action followed an allegation that on 12 December 2024, Ms Smith drove a motor vehicle on a road while over the prescribed legal limit for alcohol. The SRA alleged that this conduct breached Principle 2 of the SRA Principles 2019, which requires solicitors to act in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the profession.
The allegation was found to be proven. The decision-maker confirmed that a certificate of conviction constituted conclusive evidence of the offence and the facts relied upon. Ms Smith pleaded guilty to the drink-driving offence on 2 April 2025 and was convicted by the criminal courts. She was disqualified from driving for 36 months, fined £850, ordered to pay a £350 surcharge and £85 in costs, and required to complete a drink-driving awareness course, which could reduce the length of her disqualification.
Ms Smith self-reported her conviction to the SRA on 24 April 2025. During the regulatory investigation, she accepted the allegation and agreed that a rebuke was the appropriate outcome.
In its reasoning, the SRA noted that solicitors hold a key role in the administration of justice and are expected to comply with the law. The regulator said that criminal convictions, including those for driving with excess alcohol, are likely to undermine public confidence in the profession.
The SRA also took into account Ms Smith’s regulatory history. In 2019, she had previously entered into a regulatory settlement agreement with the SRA and received a rebuke for an earlier conviction for driving with excess alcohol. The regulator treated this as an aggravating factor.
However, the SRA also identified mitigating features. Ms Smith pleaded guilty, cooperated with the police, self-reported promptly, and showed insight into her misconduct. There was no finding of dishonesty or lack of integrity, and no evidence of harm to clients.
Balancing these factors, the SRA concluded that a rebuke was a proportionate sanction to maintain professional standards and uphold public confidence in legal services.