Ex-Walker Morris Pa barred after keeping £250 collected for colleague’s honeymoon fund
A former personal assistant at leading Leeds law firm Walker Morris has been banned from working in the legal profession after keeping money donated by colleagues to fund a co-worker’s honeymoon. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) ruled that Zara Dee Simpson acted dishonestly when she misled her firm about the whereabouts of the £250 wedding collection.
According to the SRA’s findings, Simpson told her colleagues that she had transferred the donated sum to the newlyweds’ honeymoon fund through the online platform weddingshop.com. In reality, she had kept the money in her own bank account. The regulator said her actions were a serious breach of trust and integrity, warranting a formal prohibition from working in any SRA-regulated organisation without prior written approval.
Simpson’s misconduct, though involving a relatively small amount of money, was described as “dishonest” and contrary to the high standards expected of those employed within the legal sector. The SRA’s report stated that she had “misled her employer” and taken funds that did not belong to her, behaviour incompatible with continuing employment in the profession.
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The incident came to light when colleagues began enquiring about the transfer of the wedding collection and sought confirmation from the recipients. It soon emerged that no payment had been made to the intended account. When confronted, Simpson claimed the money had been transferred via the online wedding service but was unable to provide proof of the transaction. Further checks revealed the funds remained in her personal account.
The regulator’s investigation concluded that Simpson had acted with intent to deceive her employer and had failed to demonstrate the honesty required of anyone working in a legal setting. Although she is not a solicitor, the SRA has the power under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 to ban non-solicitor employees whose conduct renders them unfit to work in regulated firms. The order prevents Simpson from being employed in any capacity by a firm, solicitor, or recognised body regulated by the SRA unless she obtains prior consent.
The SRA emphasised that the integrity of legal practice depends not only on qualified lawyers but on the honesty of all staff. “Those who handle money in legal environments must act transparently and with complete probity,” a spokesperson said. “Even low-value misconduct damages public trust and cannot be tolerated.”
In addition to the ban, Simpson, whose last known address was in Essex, was ordered to pay £600 towards the SRA’s investigation costs. She did not contest the decision, and no evidence was presented of any repayment of the missing funds. The regulator’s decision will remain on public record and may be considered by other professional bodies should she seek employment in regulated sectors in future.
Walker Morris, one of the UK’s largest independent commercial law firms, declined to comment on the disciplinary outcome but confirmed that the matter had been reported to the SRA promptly once discovered. The firm said it fully supports the regulator’s decision and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct among all staff.
Section 43 orders are typically imposed where an individual’s behaviour demonstrates dishonesty, lack of integrity or other conduct that poses a risk to clients or the wider public. They effectively prevent the person from working in any role within a regulated law firm — even in administrative or support positions — unless explicitly authorised by the SRA.
The case underscores the regulator’s strict stance on internal misconduct within the legal profession, regardless of the sums involved. While £250 may appear a modest figure, the SRA’s decision sends a clear message that any misuse of funds or deception within a legal workplace will lead to exclusion from the industry