Date
10 December, 2024
Decision
CILEx membership exclusion for an indefinite period.
Charges
Allegation 1
i. Failing to maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct and justify public trust in her, her profession and the provision of legal services.
Contrary to Principle 2, Outcome 2.2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct
ii. Failing to behave with honesty and integrity.
Contrary to Principle 3, outcomes 3.1 and 3.2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct
The circumstances of allegation 1 are that Between July 2020 and September 2021, Ms Mears misled three clients into believing that their divorce petitions had been issued by the court when she had no honest belief that they had been.
In consequence of this Ms Mears was dismissed from her employment with Sills & Betteridge for gross misconduct and became the subject of an SRA investigation which led to control order being published on 15th December 2023.
Allegation 2
i. Failing to maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct and justify public trust in her, her profession and the provision of legal services.
Contrary to Principle 2, Outcome 2.2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct
ii. Failing to understand and comply with the law and regulation applicable to her; and/or take all practicable steps to ensure she can demonstrate that she has adhered to the core Principles and met the associated Outcomes
Contrary to Principle 4, Outcome 4.1 and 4.2 of the CILEX Code of Conduct
The circumstances of allegation 2 are that Ms Mears failed to disclose that she had engaged in conduct which she knew or ought to have known may affect her CILEX membership.
Outcome
Ms Mears admitted the allegations and, in accordance with Rule 18(1) CILEx Regulation Enforcement Rules, agreed to determine the allegation by consent and the imposition of an exclusion from CILEX for an indefinite period.
Sanction
Ms Mears was excluded from CILEx membership for an indefinite period.
This decision is subject to a right of appeal within 42 days.
