The UK Law Soc Gazette reports
Three immigration firms named in the Daily Mail’s undercover investigation last week have been shut down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Rashid & Rashid in South Wimbledon, Kingswright Solicitors in Birmingham and Lincoln Lawrence in Hounslow were today intervened into by the regulator.
The firms are effectively prevented from practising, with the SRA taking possession of all documents and papers held by the firm and holding all client money.
The SRA has also suspended the practising certificates of solicitors Rashid Khan, Muhammad Ahmad and Muhammad Hayat, as well as issuing a section 43 order against legal executive VP Lingajothy which prevents him from working for any law firm.
The regulator was urged in a letter from justice secretary Alex Chalk MP to take immediate action against the lawyers and firms named by the Mail in its story which dominated last week’s news agenda.
In a reply published today, SRA chair Anna Bradley said: ‘We very much agree that public trust and confidence is fundamental to a strong and healthy legal profession and, like you, we were shocked by the apparent behaviour of those solicitors identified by the Daily Mail recently.
‘As you acknowledge in your letter, solicitors play an important role in our society and the vast majority behave in an appropriate and professional manner, providing high quality, much needed advice and assistance to their clients.
‘However, in areas of law where the consequences for clients are so severe, such as in immigration services, these high standards are even more critical.’
The Mail’s story appeared to show lawyers advising clients to lie or create a story to boost their asylum claims.
The affairs of Rashid & Rashid, Kingswright and Lincoln Lawrence are being handled by solicitor agents from Shakespeare Martineau, Stephenson’s and Lester Aldridge respectively.
Bradley said the SRA had obtained the Daily Mail recordings and transcripts of conversations with four of the solicitors under investigation. Two of the firms have been inspected already.
Interventions can be challenged at the High Court but unless that challenge is successful they cannot reopen.
Chalk had also asked the SRA to revisit its thematic review of the immigration sector, which was concluded last year.
Bradley said the regulator will begin a wider inspection of the sector in the next few weeks and will include a cross-section of firms working in asylum claims. It will also expand and promote the information on it rules and best practice available to law firms.