A solicitor who worked in breach of his certificat

A solicitor who worked in breach of his certificate for nearly two years was struck off today.

(THURS)

Hugh Norman, 46, agreed to join Cheltenham firm Robinson and partners for only two weeks.

But he persistently defied the orders of the Law Society and has continued working as an advocate into this year.

Gerald Lynch, acting for the Office for Supervision of Solicitors, said Norman had been supervised since the intervention at his own practice in 1996.

‘He was in breach of a condition that he work in accordance with permission granted by the director of the OSS.

‘All was well until 1999.

On May 13 he was granted permission to work with Robinson and partners for two weeks.

‘The office did not consider a permanent arrangement would be appropriate and told him an extension would not be approved.

‘

When it emerged Norman was still working at the firm, the OSS repeatedly sent him letters throughout 1999 and the whole of 2000 without reply.

Mr Lynch said: ‘It seems to me there is a blatant failure to observe the conditions of approval granted.

‘

He failed to appear at the hearing of the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal and the allegations of a breach of conditions and failing to reply to correspondence proved were proved in his absence.

Tribunal Chairman John Potter said: ‘We regard this to be a flagrant breach on a number of occasions of conditions imposed on a practising certificate.

‘This is extremely serious and the most appropriate course is to strike him off from the Roll of solicitors.

‘

Norman, of (15) Hay Street, Marshfield, Chippenham, was ordered to pay costs of pnds stlg 1,153 and 60 pence.

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