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I think the rot set in with Padden v Bevan Ashford, which was strictly a decision on whether a judge in civil proceedings could find "no case to answer" and strike out a claim before hearing the Defendant's evidence.

However in that case, a trainee solicitor (working for free I think) was held liable in negligence when a pushy client demanded she witness a signature on a consent to mortgage without giving full detailed legal advice (advice she was not asked to give).