Solicitors

In relation to an application by a solicitor to be restored to the roll following an earlier finding that she was guilty of acting dishonestly, it was for a specialist tribunal to judge whether the circumstances justified re-admission. The court should be slow to disagree with a decision of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), absent an error of law. While the High Court had an appellate jurisdiction, it would not be appropriate for a judge of the High Court to substitute his own view that he might have taken a different course. There would have to have been strong grounds for disagreeing with the view of a specialist tribunal. The SDT was required to consider the past conduct and evaluate the future risk if the appellant were restored to the roll, including the potential impact on the public confidence in the profession, which was a matter of cardinal importance.