News
SRA crackdown on students with convictions
- 29th September 2010
All aspiring solicitors must show that they have the suitable character to be a solicitor – and the Solicitors Regulation Authority has made it clear in a recent case how seriously it views law students who fail to disclose criminal convictions and other relevant information in their applications.
An applicant who wanted to apply to be admitted to the Roll of Solicitors under the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Regulations indicated that he did not have any previous convictions. Nor did he disclose any on his student enrolment application.
When he applied to the Roll it became apparent he had failed to disclose previous convictions for two offences of attempting to obtain property by deception as well as two non-convictions for a rape allegation and an alleged incidence of ABH.
The SRA refused his application for admission – a decision that was upheld by the court. On appeal, the adjudicator made reference to the fact that whilst the offences had taken place 10 years previously, a major concern was the appellant's inability to admit the mistakes. The non-convictions were relevant material which the panel was entitled to know about.
The SRA expects all aspiring solicitors applying to be admitted to the Roll to be open and honest about any character issues that might affect their character suitability to become solicitors. This clearly goes beyond disclosing previous convictions.
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