Date
24 November 2022
Misconduct
Alison Copeland admitted seven allegations.
Allegations 1 and 2
Failing to maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct and justify public trust in her, her profession and the provision and the provision of legal services by engaging in conduct that could undermine or affect adversely the confidence and trust place in her by her client, employer, professional colleagues, the public and others. Contrary to Principle 2, Outcome 2.2. of the CILEx Code of Conduct
Failing to behave with honesty and integrity by not being honest in all her dealings and in all financial matters and intentionally misleading her client. Contrary to Principle 3, Outcomes 3.1 and 3.2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct
In that between January and June 2020 she deliberately misled her client as to the real reason for the delay in selling shares resulting in a financial loss, by attributing the delay to a problem with the online sales portal when she knew this was not true.
Allegations 3 and 4
Failing to maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct and justify public trust in her, her profession and the provision and the provision of legal services by engaging in conduct that could undermine or affect adversely the confidence and trust place in her by her client, employer, professional colleagues, the public and others. Contrary to Principle 2, Outcome 2.2. of the CILEx Code of Conduct
Failing to behave with honesty and integrity by not being honest in all her dealings and in all financial matters and intentionally misleading her client. Contrary to Principle 3, Outcomes 3.1 and 3.2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct
In that between May and June 2020 she fabricated four attendance notes in order to conceal from her employer errors in relation to overpayments.
Allegations 5-7
Failing to maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct and justify public trust in her, her profession and the provision and the provision of legal services by engaging in conduct that could undermine or affect adversely the confidence and trust place in her by her client, employer, professional colleagues, the public and others. Contrary to Principle 2, Outcome 2.2. of the CILEx Code of Conduct
Failing to behave with honesty and integrity by not being honest in all her dealings and in all financial matters and intentionally misleading her client. Contrary to Principle 3, Outcomes 3.1 and 3.2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct
Failing to comply with her legal and regulatory obligations and deal with her regulator openly, promptly and co-operatively. Contrary to Principle 4, Outcomes 4.1 and 4.2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct
In that between June 2020 and February 2021, she failed to declare to CILEX/CILEx Regulation that she was the subject of an SRA investigation and had been dismissed from her employment for gross misconduct, thereby misleading CILEx Regulation into believing that there was no disclosable conduct which may have affected affect her CILEX membership. In consequence of her conduct, she was made the subject of a control order under Section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974, prohibiting her from working in a legal practice.
Outcome – DBC
Alison Copeland admitted all allegations and, in accordance with Rule 18(1) of the Enforcement Rules (ER), agreed to determine the allegations by consent and agreed a sanction that would be available to the Professional Conduct Panel or Disciplinary Tribunal.
Sanction – Exclusion (fixed period)
The sanction was approved by the Professional Conduct Panel in accordance with Rule 18(3) ER Alison Copeland was excluded from CILEx membership for 4 years, after which time she will be entitled to reapply for reinstatement to CILEX membership. She will not be entitled to automatic reinstatement.
