A lawyer in Manchester has been disbarred after it was revealed that she manipulated her time sheets to falsely claim a substantial bonus of nearly £70,000. Samina Ahmed, 46, a legal aid solicitor, recorded hours that were not only inflated but also included claims of working an impossible 28 hours a day.
The case was brought before the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal, which found that Ahmed had routinely overstated her working hours over a period from July 2021 to June 2022. During this time, she logged a staggering 7,511.70 hours over just 266 days, averaging more than 28 hours per day. Among these claims were 133 days where she stated she had worked over 24 hours in a single day.
The tribunal heard that Ahmed, who spent 17 years at Tucker Solicitors, was warned about her fraudulent activities during a staff meeting in April 2022. Despite this warning, she continued to submit falsified time sheets in an effort to secure the maximum possible bonus, which at Tucker Solicitors could amount to 400% of her salary. This unethical conduct not only impacted her employer but also resulted in a financial loss of £98,093 paid out by the publicly funded Legal Aid Agency.
After her misconduct was discovered, Ahmed was dismissed from her position and subsequently faced disciplinary action. The tribunal concluded that her actions represented a serious breach of integrity, stating that she “acted dishonestly and without integrity in recording time against matters where she had not and could not have completed the work claimed.” They emphasized that such behavior erodes public trust in the legal profession.
As a result of her actions, Ahmed has been struck off the Roll of Solicitors and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs, a reduction from the original £49,600 due to her current financial situation. The tribunal acknowledged her modest means, noting that she is now employed as an apprentice with Wigan Council and that her income is barely sufficient to cover her expenses as a single parent of three children.
The tribunal’s decision reflects a broader commitment to maintaining integrity within the legal profession, ensuring that such dishonest conduct is met with appropriate sanctions. The repercussions of Ahmed’s actions extend beyond her personal career, highlighting the importance of ethical behavior in legal practices funded by public resources.
