Solicitor struck off after year-long pattern of misleading clients over case progress

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard that Rachel Parker, who worked in estate administration at national firm Buckles, misled clients, colleagues, and third parties about the progress of cases and the submission of applications on behalf of her clients.

Parker admitted falsely claiming to clients, colleagues, and third parties that she had submitted applications for Grants of Probate – essential documents for administering a deceased person’s estate – and had followed up with the Probate Registry, when in fact she had done neither.

The misconduct spanned at least eight separate client matters over a 14-month period, from September 2022 to November 2023.

The tribunal heard that one client had been misled into believing their case was well underway, with applications already filed and a grant expected within 16 to 20 weeks – when in reality, no such application had been submitted until after Parker had left the firm.

When it became clear that no progress had been made – despite repeated assurances that the application had been filed and was due to be approved imminently – the client described themselves as “increasingly disappointed”, warning that their matters would be “adversely affected”.

In another instance, a family Parker was assisting repeatedly sought updates on a delayed probate process, and she assured them she was “regularly chasing the registry”, despite there being no evidence she had contacted the authority.

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Beyond the misleading statements themselves, the tribunal highlighted that Parker “attempted to conceal her wrongdoing”, failing to admit that applications had not been submitted even when asked directly.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) launched an investigation after Parker resigned from her role at the firm on 11 December 2023, formally leaving on 12 March 2024, with an internal probe subsequently uncovering mishandling of eight client probate matters.

Parker admitted the allegations in full, acknowledged that her conduct was “dishonest”, and offered a “sincere and genuine apology” for her actions and breaches.

However, in personal mitigation – which the SRA did not accept – Parker claimed she had been grappling with “significant mental health challenges, including symptoms consistent with anxiety and depression and which were exacerbated by excessive workloads, personal stressors, and a lack of adequate support at work”.

In light of the breaches and her dishonesty, the tribunal ruled that striking Parker off the roll of solicitors was the “only appropriate and proportionate sanction”.

Additionally, she was ordered to pay £5,000 (approximately AU$9,600) in costs.