Allegations against Blacker revealed by SRA

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published the allegations levelled against Dr Alan Blacker while he was in practice as a solicitor at a charity.

In September the SRA announced Lord Harley would face the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), however, the allegations against him were not disclosed. A case management hearing was held yesterday which led to the the claims against Blacker being revealed.

The SRA has alleged Blacker failed to maintain properly written up accounts to show dealings with client money and with office money relating to client matters while he was practising as a solicitor at the Joint Armed Forces Legal Advocacy Service.

In the same role it is also alleged that he failed to obtain an accountant's report, within six months or at all, for the accounting period during which he held client money.

Three of the charges relate to incidents between 2011 and August 2014 where Blacker: made 'statements concerning his academic qualifications which were inaccurate and misleading' and made 'claims as to appointments or accreditations awarded by, or memberships of, organisations which were inaccurate and misleading; and 'claims to be entitled to use titles which were inaccurate and misleading'.

A further charge relates to Blacker recklessly misleading the court while appearing before His Honour Judge Wynn Morgan at Cardiff Crown Court on 28 August 2014.

The final charge sees Blacker face an allegation for failing to co-operate with the regulator between March 2015 and June 2015.

A second case management hearing date will be arranged by the SDT in due course where the allegations will be heard. The SRA will need to prove that the allegations are true, using the criminal standard of proof.

Matthew Rogers is an editorial assistant at Solicitors Journal matthew.rogers@solicitorsjournal.co.uk