Cheltenham has a proud legal tradition. From Willans in Imperial Square to BPE in St James’ Square, lawyers in our town provide high quality legal advice and act with professional integrity. They do an essential job in securing justice for individuals, and allowing citizens and business to resolve their disputes fairly.
Preserving high professional standards is important in our country which rightly prides itself on the rule of law. That’s why last week I wrote as Lord Chancellor to the Chair of the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA) to call for the “full force of sanctions” to be used against lawyers found guilty of breaching their professional obligations.
I contacted them following a newspaper investigation which uncovered evidence that a number of solicitors had allegedly offered ways for potential clients to dupe immigration officials with harrowing, but entirely bogus, back stories. All this was in exchange for thousands of pounds. The claims were accompanied by video footage.
The evidence presented was deeply concerning, which is why I wrote to call for an urgent and independent investigation to get to the bottom of it – rapidly and fairly. We cannot allow unscrupulous individuals to undermine public confidence in our legal and immigration systems, nor let their actions tarnish the reputation of the vast majority.
Following their initial enquiries, the SRA shut down three of the law firms named and suspended the practising certificates of their principals. It also seized documents and papers, and took possession of money held. I welcome that.
The detailed further investigations must now be allowed to take their course. But make no mistake: those found after a fair process to have undermined the high professional standards of the overwhelming majority should expect a robust response.
I am pleased too that in their letter responding to me the SRA committed to a wider inspection of the immigration sector as a whole. That will help root out the bad apples and preserve the good standing of the majority of lawyers in our society – here in Cheltenham and beyond.
[Column first published in the Cheltenham Post]