Lawyer Sanctioned For Not Keeping His Hands to Himself Around Women

In late February 2023, the Solicitors Regulatory Authority through the medium of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal handed down a financial sanction upon a male legal professional over accusations of sexually harassing a fellow legal professional from the female demographic whilst they both attended a work-related social function. The case is food for thought for all persons who work in the legal profession as to how they should be conducting themselves at professional gatherings. 

What Happened In The Case?

The legal professional had seemingly done very well career-wise, having achieved a practising certificate that permitted him to operate in the esteemed position of a solicitor in approximately 2010. However, matters seemingly deteriorated when the legal professional seems to have gone to a Construction Law Society function before going on to a nighttime entertainment establishment. The case became more interesting when the people went to the next venue. Evidence presented to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal suggested that the legal professional had walked up to a member of the female demographic who was a stranger to him and instead of acting professionally he appears to have made remarks regarding the image of the person from the female demographic. Presumably, the reader is of the opinion that the legal professional had been watching too many dating reality programs on television whereby young impressionable persons from the male demographic are encouraged to partake in the modern date rape culture. In

stead of keeping his mouth shut he seemingly thought it was appropriate in a professional working environment to compliment the young lady whom he never met before on how her buttocks looked. 

This behavior enough in a work-related environment. The person from the female demographic towards whom the legal professional was making his advances of a sexual nature communicated clearly that she was not interested in engaging with him. She also made it clear that she was not going to tolerate that sort of conduct.  However, the legal profession seems to have not taken the hint and continued this behaviour. His conduct was so unprofessional that he started placing his hands on the young lady’s waist.       

Be Sure Your Sins Will Find You Out…

The legal professional at the centre of the allegations of unprofessional behaviour of a sexual nature whilst seemingly fighting for his career life as a solicitor in the face of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal demonstrated remorse for his course of conduct on the evening in question. He expressed feeling horrified over the way he had conducted himself around the person from the female demographic and he seems to have empathised with her about how his behaviour must have made her feel. However, in the same breath, the legal professional communicated that the incident had damaged him professionally as his employment contract had ended as a result of what had happened. The SDT seems to have taken this remorse into account and found that the conduct did not demand a strike-off or practice restriction. However, as a deterrent and to make an example of him the legal professional was handed a financial sanction of approximately fifty-thousand pounds. 

Lessons Learned?

Lawyers should be conducting themselves appropriately at work-related functions to reduce the likelihood of being rebuked by the regulator. In this regard they should be strongly:

• keeping their hands to themselves
• avoid consuming excess alcohol
• conducting themselves professionally and
• remembering to uphold the image of the professional in the eyes of the public at all times

If you have experienced something similar, or have an opposing viewpoint, please kindly leave a comment on the article or contact us.  

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