The UK Law Society Gazette
A solicitor who did not reveal in a job application that she had been sacked by her previous firm for falsifying emails has been struck off the roll.
Jessica Kate Harris, admitted in 2021, was working as a solicitor at Weightmans LLP when she was asked to draft witness statements, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard yesterday. When asked about her progress, Harris said she was awaiting signed statements from witnesses when she had not sent out drafts. She then falsified emails to show she had sent them.
Following an investigation, the national firm terminated Harris’ employment. Harris applied for a job at Capsticks that same day and ‘falsely represented the reason for her departure’ from Weightmans.
The SDT was told that an agreed outcome had been reached between Harris and the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Delme Griffiths, appearing for the SRA, said Harris had been dishonest when applying to Capsticks and had acknowledged it was ‘an act for personal gain or self-preservation’.
Reading from a statement from Harris, who represented herself, Griffiths said: ‘My intention was never malicious at all but was simply out of self-preservation.’
