Council of the Law Society of the Act v LP 201810 (Alan Hill)

The Council of the Law Society of the Australian Capital Territory sought disciplinary action against a legal practitioner, LP, arising from alleged breaches of professional conduct. The Tribunal heard the matter on 28 November 2018, after the parties had reached agreement on proposed orders. The Tribunal was required to decide whether the proposed orders were appropriate. The Tribunal concluded that they were appropriate. The Tribunal found that the respondent was guilty of professional misconduct for failing to supervise the management of his firm's trust account. The Tribunal ordered that the respondent be publicly reprimanded, be fined $12,000, and pay the applicant's costs of $30,000. The Tribunal ordered that the fine and costs be paid in 12 equal monthly instalments. The Tribunal also ordered that the respondent not be a signatory to a trust account, or have any authority over, or dealings with, a trust account or trust money, for a period of five years. Finally, the Tribunal ordered that the respondent not be eligible to apply for an unrestricted practising certificate for a period of five years.