The Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal found Paul Kirk guilty of defrauding legal aid by double-charging and claiming false expenses, enabling him to become one of Scotland’s five highest earners in a league of one-man law firms, The Express newspaper reported.

In the judgment the Tribunal lamented that they could only impose a slap-on the-wrist penalty because Kirk had taken his name off the Law Society of Scotland’s list prior to action being taken against him.

In 2003—04 Kirk was paid £311,000 ($778,728 in 2003—04) by Scottish Legal Aid, however the investigation showed at least 10 per cent of Kirk’s claim was fraudulent. Kirk was fined the maximum penalty £10,000 ($22,589) and was censured.

The Tribunal said the lawyer’s fraudulent claims “strike at the heart of the obligations of honesty and integrity which are incumbent on every solicitor”.