Disciplinary Record - Holly Johnson

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)

Outcome date: 27 October 2017

Published date: 6 December 2017

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Priority Law Limited

Address(es): Priority House, 22 Church Street, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 1AU

Firm ID: 438393

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

On 1 July 2015, Miss Holly Johnson commenced employment as a trainee solicitor with Priority Law Limited whose registered office is at Lake View, Lakeside, Cheadle. She was dismissed by the firm on 7 December 2016. During the course of her employment, Miss Johnson was found to have:

1. Used money that the firm was holding for a client to cover up mistakes that she had made on five separate matters.
2. Changed the matter name to try and conceal the payment requests that she had made / was making.

Her conduct in this regard was found to be dishonest and to have breached rule 1.2(c) of the SRA Accounts Rules 2011 and the following SRA Principles:

• Principle 2 (act with integrity).
• Principle 6 (behave in a way that maintains the public's trust in you and the provision of legal services).
• Principle 10 (protect client money and assets).

Miss Johnson was made subject to an order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended), was given a written rebuke and was ordered to pay a financial penalty of £2,000. She was also ordered to pay the SRA's costs of £600 in investigation this matter.

It is not known whether Miss Johnson is currently working at a SRA regulated practice.

Reasons/basis

Order for publication

In the matter of Miss Holly Johnson of Denton, Manchester, a person who is or was involved in legal practice but is not a solicitor.

Section 43 Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended)

Finding

Miss Johnson was involved in a legal practice (as defined by section 43(1A) of the Solicitors Act 1974) but not as a solicitor and has occasioned or been a party to an act or default which involved such conduct on her part that in the opinion of the Society it would be undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways described in the order below.

Order

To make an order pursuant to section 43 that with effect from the date of the letter or email notifying Miss Johnson of this decision:

1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor;
2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the solicitor's practice;
3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate her;
4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the business of that body;
5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to be a manager of the body; and
6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to have an interest in the body except in accordance with a Society permission.

This order is subject to an internal right of appeal and a statutory right of review Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.