Lawyer Struck Off for Falsifying Timesheets and Hours

A lawyer has been disbarred after she falsely claimed to have worked an impossible 28 hours in a single day in pursuit of a substantial bonus. Samina Ahmed, 46, was found to have manipulated her timesheets while employed as a prison law solicitor at Tucker Solicitors for 17 years. The Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal concluded that Ahmed’s actions undermined public trust in the legal profession.

The tribunal’s findings revealed that Ahmed had submitted inflated hours on 133 occasions, often exceeding 24 hours within one day. Despite receiving warnings about her fraudulent conduct during a staff meeting, she persisted in her deceitful claims. The tribunal indicated that her recorded times were “an impossibility,” leading to her being struck off the solicitors’ roll and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs.

Details of the Fraudulent Claims

Between July 2021 and June 2022, Ahmed systematically overstated her working hours on the company’s case management system. Over the span of 266 days, she registered a total of 7,511.70 hours, averaging over 28 hours per day. This manipulation was aimed at maximizing her potential bonus, which could reach up to 400 percent of her salary, translating to approximately £69,300.

As her fraudulent billing was funded by the publicly-funded Legal Aid Agency, the total amount claimed reached £98,093, a sum that Tucker Solicitors is now required to repay. After the firm detected irregularities and confronted her in April 2022, Ahmed continued her falsifications, which ultimately led to her dismissal and subsequent disciplinary hearing.

Consequences and Findings of the Tribunal

The tribunal characterized Ahmed’s conduct as gravely dishonest, stating she “acted dishonestly and without integrity” in her timekeeping practices. The panel emphasized that her actions not only harmed her employer but also jeopardized the reputation of the legal profession. The tribunal deemed that the severity of her conduct warranted a striking off from the solicitors’ roll, a measure considered fair, reasonable, and proportionate given the circumstances.

During the tribunal proceedings, Ahmed acknowledged her current employment as an apprentice with Wigan Council and noted that her income was higher than her previous retail job. However, she indicated that her earnings barely covered her expenses, necessitating support from universal credit and child benefit. Ahmed is a single parent to three children, and the tribunal took her financial situation into account when determining the costs order.

Despite the seriousness of her actions, the tribunal decided to reduce the costs order from £49,600 to reflect Ahmed’s limited financial means, concluding she was not entirely unable to meet a reasonable costs order in a timely manner.

The case serves as a significant reminder of the importance of integrity in the legal profession and the consequences of fraudulent behavior.