Unregistered Barrister Kayleigh Swain ordered to be disbarred
Unregistered barrister Kayleigh Swain, called to the Bar of England and Wales by Middle Temple in March 2011, was ordered to be disbarred by an independent disciplinary tribunal which concluded at an online hearing on 30 March 2020 following a charge of professional misconduct brought by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
The tribunal's decision comes after Ms Swain was found to have practised as a barrister without a valid practising certificate from August-October 2018 and that she had dishonestly held herself out as a practising barrister in communications with North Yorkshire Police when she was not authorised to do so.
The tribunal found that by holding herself out in this way, Ms Swain had failed to act with honesty and/or integrity and behaved in a way which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in her or in the profession.
Commenting on the order, Sara Jagger, BSB Director of Legal and Enforcement, said: “The public must be able to rely upon barristers’ claims to be able to practise. Knowingly making false claims about such matters is not compatible with the standards expected of the Bar”.
The tribunal’s decision is open to appeal.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About Kayleigh Swain
Kayleigh Swain was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Middle Temple in March 2011.
About disciplinary tribunals
The appointment, operation, and decisions (including sentencing) of disciplinary tribunal panels are performed by the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS). BTAS is run independently of the Bar Standards Board, the barristers' regulator. The BSB is responsible for bringing charges of professional misconduct against barristers, which BTAS tribunal panels then adjudicate. The sanctions imposed are a matter for the tribunal having regard to the facts of the individual case and the BTAS Sanctions Guidance which is endorsed by the Council of the Inns of Court.
About the Bar Standards Board
Our mission is to regulate barristers and specialised legal services businesses in England and Wales in the public interest. For more information about what we do visit: http://bit.ly/1gwui8t
Contact: For all media enquiries call: 0207 611 4691 or email [email protected].
