‘Rehabilitated’ ex-solicitor denied readmission

May 03, 2016

Written By Jack J Collins, Editor, AllAboutLaw.co.uk

A solicitor who was struck off 17 years ago has been denied readmission to the roll of solicitors after a Tribunal decided it was not an ‘exceptional circumstance.’

Charles Mandleberg was struck off in 1999 after a court decided that he was guilty of using a former wife’s name in order to illegally gain profits from a long-expired insurance policy, but he had not practiced since 1994 when the Law Society intervened due to mental health and alcohol issues.

At a memorial service for his father this year, Mandleberg learned from friends just how devastated his father had been when he had been banned from the profession, and having turned his personal issues around, Mandleberg decided to apply for readmission.

He told the tribunal that his mental health issues had all but ceased since he stopped drinking after his sanction, and that whilst he agreed that his striking off had been the only possible course of action, he was proud of his own achievements since 2000.

His employers stated that there were no issues with psychiatric problems, and one went so far as to say that readmitting Mandleberg could ‘only enhance the profession’ because of his honest integrity when dealing with clients.

Whilst the tribunal stated that it was ‘impressed’ with the progress that Mandleberg had made, and all the work he had done to restore his professional reputation, it decided that it was only in exceptional cases that solicitors could be restored and whilst Mandleberg’s desire and restoration of character was ‘highly commendable’ it did not believe it to be exceptional.

The application was ultimately refused, and Mandleberg was ordered to pay the costs of £3,000 for the tribunal.

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