A former law firm practice manager has been barred from the legal profession after helping herself to almost £700,000 of client funds.
A notice published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority stated that Adelle Stoddart, who worked for Nottinghamshire firm Jackson Quinn for 20 years, may not work for any regulated entity without permission.
Stoddart was found to have misappropriated client funds to the value of £698,103 over several years. She also took an undisclosed amount of business funds by using the firm’s credit card for personal expenditure.
The employee was said to have falsified documents to cover up her conduct. She further falsified a change of name deed, changing her name to that of a dead client.
The SRA said Stoddart’s conduct was dishonest and she should no longer be involved in a legal practice.
Stoddart, from Nottinghamshire, joined family specialist Jackson Quinn as an accounts assistant in 2005 and was promoted to accounts supervisor in 2013.
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