A solicitor has been struck off after a disciplinary tribunal found she falsified her timesheets to such an extent that she claimed to have worked an average of 28 hours a day over a near year-long period.
The Fraudulent Time Claims
Samina Ahmed, who had worked at Tuckers Solicitors for 17 years, submitted records stating she worked 7,511.70 hours across 266 days between July 2021 and June 2022. This astonishing figure averaged out at 28.24 hours per day and included 133 separate days where she logged more than 24 hours of work.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard that her motivation was the firm's lucrative bonus scheme, which rewarded high billing. Ahmed aimed to reach the highest tier, which would have seen her earn a bonus worth 400% of her salary, potentially totalling £69,300.
Discovery and Consequences
The scheme unravelled in 2024. Despite being warned about her conduct at a staff meeting, Ahmed continued to manipulate her records. Her work, which involved representing people in prisons, was publicly funded through the Legal Aid Agency (LAA).
As a result of her actions, Tuckers Solicitors had to repay £98,093 to the LAA for the hours she falsely claimed. No bonus was ever paid to Ahmed, as the firm discovered the misconduct in time.
Tribunal's Ruling and Sanction
The tribunal found that Ahmed had "acted dishonestly and without integrity" and that her conduct was at the "highest level" of seriousness. It stated she had "failed to uphold public trust and confidence in the profession."
The panel ordered that she be struck off the solicitors' Roll and pay £5,000 in costs. This sum was a significant reduction from an initial £49,600, taking into account her modest financial means as a single parent to three children, currently working as an apprentice for Wigan Council and in receipt of universal credit.
The tribunal concluded that the sanction of being struck off was "fair, reasonable and proportionate" given the foreseeable harm caused to others and the reputation of the legal profession.
