Scott Galbraith

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)

Outcome date: 27 January 2023

Published date: 31 January 2023

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Beacon Wealth Legal

Address(es): 26 Market Square St Neots PE19 2PJ

Firm ID: 619451

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Reasons/basis

Who does this decision relate to?

Scott Galbraith of St Neots, Cambridgeshire

A person who is or was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor

Summary of decision

The SRA has put restrictions on where and how Mr Galbraith can work in an SRA regulated firm. It was found that Mr Galbraith provided false information on his application for a job in a regulated firm. Mr Galbraith was found to have been dishonest.

The facts of the case

Mr Galbraith was employed by Beacon Wealth Legal (the firm) as a paralegal between 13 December 2021 and 17 March 2022, when he was dismissed for gross misconduct. The firm is a licensed body. On 7 December 2021, Mr Galbraith completed a job application form for the firm, in which he said he had not been dismissed from any previous employment. This was untrue. Mr Galbraith subsequently repeated this false statement during an interview with the firm.

On 17 March 2022, the firm held an investigatory meeting with Mr Galbraith during which he admitted he had provided false information in his application. His employment with the firm was terminated on the same day.

Our decision on outcome

An order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed as Mr Galbraith’s conduct meant that it was undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA’s prior approval.

This was because of the serious nature of his conduct in making false statements to a prospective employer for his own personal benefit to secure a role at the firm.

Mr Galbraith was also ordered to pay the SRA’s costs of £600.

What our Section 43 order means

To make an order pursuant to section 43 that with effect from the date of the letter or email notifying Mr Galbraith of this decision:

1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor;
2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the solicitor's practice;
3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate him;
4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the business of that body;
5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to be a manager of the body; and
6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to have an interest in the body

except in accordance with the SRA’s prior written permission.