• March 28, 2024
 Dishonest Solicitor Struck Off For Overbilling Clients

Dishonest Solicitor Struck Off For Overbilling Clients

Joanne Power, a sole practitioner at Essex firm Diamonds Legal, has been struck off and instructed to pay costs of £46,645 for overbilling clients on a number of estates.

At a two day hearing in September, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) found a number of inappropriate and dishonest incidents with clients. This included work that was valued at £30,000 actually being charged for more than £250,000 across a six year period; the only notification of suspected costs, consisted of a hand written estimate of £200,000.

Amongst her other notable offences, Power was guilty of delaying a £95,000 payment to the intended beneficiaries by more than three years. Taking advantage of her position, Power also asked the mother of the beneficiaries to withhold information about their entitlements.

The evidence also highlighted clear discrepancies in the holding of client funds. In January 2015, a client to office transfer of £20,000 was made to facilitate a payment of £14,843 to HMRC; the remaining money used to cover costs.

Power continued to take advantage of her position, including purchasing a property using her client’s assets. Although the property was set to benefit the client, Power occupied the property on many occasions for over two years.

Nigel Coates, Intervening at the SRA, said: “The Adjudication Panel is satisfied in accordance with paragraph 32(1)(a) of Schedule 2 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985 that Joanne Power, as a manager of Diamonds Legal LLP has failed to comply with the SRA Principles 2011 and the SRA Accounts Rules 2011 which are rules applicable to it by virtue of section 9 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985 (as amended);

“The Adjudication Panel is satisfied in accordance with paragraph 32(1)(d) that there is reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Joanne Power, a manager of Diamonds Legal LLP, in connection with the firm’s business.”

Although power claimed that the failings on her part were not made with dishonest intent, her actions were to the detriment of her clients on many occasions.

Why are professional integrity and standards so important in the Wills and probate sector? What can be done to prevent this from happening in the future?

 

Martin Parrin