The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is currently conducting more than 20 investigations into solicitors and law firms that were involved in cases related to the Horizon IT scandal at the Post Office. This scandal resulted in hundreds of subpostmasters being wrongly prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 due to errors in the Horizon IT system.
The SRA’s investigation focuses on the strategy and conduct of the Post Office or Royal Mail Group solicitors during this period. They are looking into how solicitors handled the group litigation brought forward by Sir Alan Bates on behalf of 555 subpostmasters who took legal action against the Post Office. The investigation also includes whether legal privilege was misused to prevent communications from being disclosed and if duties regarding expert witnesses were upheld.
Furthermore, the SRA is examining the Post Office’s complaint review and mediation scheme, which was developed following a 2012 probe into the Horizon system. The scheme aimed to address concerns raised by subpostmasters about the reliability of the Horizon system. The investigation will determine if claimants were overcharged, if non-disclosure agreements were misused, and if correspondence was improperly labelled.
Paul Philip, the SRA’s chief executive, emphasized the importance of solicitors behaving ethically and acting in the interests of justice. He stated that the SRA will take action against any solicitor found to have failed in their ethical duties to protect the public and maintain trust in the legal profession.
The SRA has reviewed tens of thousands of pages of information and evidence in these investigations. They have the authority to issue fines of up to £25,000 to solicitors and law firms, as well as impose controls on their practices. In more serious cases, the independent Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal can issue unlimited fines and suspend or strike off solicitors.
While there is currently no evidence to suggest that any solicitor poses an urgent risk to the public, the SRA is committed to taking action where there is evidence of misconduct. Solicitors are reminded of their duty to uphold the law and the proper administration of justice above all other interests, including those of their clients.
The SRA aims to ensure that all relevant issues are thoroughly examined in the inquiry before taking any meaningful action. The investigations are complex, but the SRA is dedicated to protecting the public and maintaining the integrity of the legal profession.