SDT left with backlog of cases

A rise in the number of solicitors willing to fight misconduct allegations, combined with increasingly complex cases, has resulted in a lengthening backlog of applications waiting to be heard by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).

Fifty-six cases were outstanding for more than a year at 30 April 2008 compared with 27 last year, according to the SDT’s 2007/08 annual report, published last week.

Anthony Isaacs, president of the SDT, said: ‘The Law Society, in preparing complex misconduct cases, often makes a large number of allegations. There is more to argue about and respondents take issue with these allegations.

‘There is also a greater tendency on the part of a respondent to challenge the procedure and the allegations being made. Certainly, that is their right, but perhaps in days gone by solicitors were more inclined to hold their hands up and admit they had got something wrong and then put it right.’

The number of solicitors struck off the roll remained at roughly average levels, with
61 removed from the roll last year. Applications to the SDT increased by 5% on last year, with 47 suspensions this year compared with 33 the previous year.