A barrister has been suspended from practice for six months for falsely telling his client that case papers were at home when in fact they were lost.
Stephen Simon Nicholas Taylor, called by Inner Temple in July 2002, must also complete a direct access course run by the Bar Council as part of sanctions imposed on him.
The professional misconduct charge against Taylor related to ‘falsely stating to his client that his case papers were likely to be at his home address, when he knew this was untrue’.
The Bar Standards Tribunals & Adjudication Service considered Taylor’s behaviour demonstrated a lack of honesty and integrity on Taylor’s part.
The Bar Standards Board, commenting on the order, said: ‘The public should be able to expect barristers to behave in a trustworthy and reliable manner. Losing client documents and not being candid regarding their whereabouts is not only a serious disservice to the client but also risks undermining public confidence in the profession. The tribunal’s sanction reflects this.’
The tribunal’s decision is open to appeal.
