Solicitor Disciplinary Tribunal Decisions

Introduction

Welcome to the Irish Claims Board’s solicitor disciplinary records page. We believe that understanding solicitor conduct is crucial for anyone navigating the claims process. Remember, the Irish Claims Board offers a free assessment on claims—we should be your first port of call before engaging a solicitor. Our expert team is here to provide clear, unbiased advice, empowering you to make informed decisions without cost or commitment. This page highlights disciplinary records to help you stay aware of solicitor conduct and choose trustworthy professionals when needed.

Back to listDetails for James Dorney
Name
James Dorney
Address
Dorney Solicitors, Phoenix House, Monahan Road, Cork
Date of Order
01/07/2019
Decision
 
In the matter of James Dorney, solicitor, practising as  Dorney Solicitors, Phoenix House, Monahan Road, Cork, and in the matter of an  application by the Law Society of Ireland to the Solicitors Disciplinary  Tribunal, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2015 [2018/DT80; 2018/DT106; High Court record 2019/49 SA]
Law Society of Ireland (applicant)
James Dorney (respondent solicitor)
2018/DT80
On 11 April 2019, the Solicitors  Disciplinary Tribunal found the respondent solicitor guilty of misconduct in  his practice as a solicitor in that he failed to ensure that there was  furnished to the Society an accountant’s report for the year ended 28 February  2018 within six months of that date, in breach of regulation 26(1) of the Solicitors  Accounts Regulations 2014. 
2018/DT106
On 11 April 2019, the Solicitors  Disciplinary Tribunal found the respondent solicitor guilty of misconduct in  his practice as a solicitor in that he: 
1)   Failed to maintain  proper records by withdrawing funds from the client account to the office  account without supporting documentation, contrary to regulation 7 of the Solicitors  Accounts Regulations 2014, 
2)   Failed to maintain  proper books of account and such relevant supporting documents as would enable  clients’ moneys handled and dealt with by the solicitor to be duly recorded and  the entries relevant thereto in the books of account to be appropriately  vouched, contrary to regulation 13(1) of the Solicitors Accounts Regulations, 
3)   Failed to comply with  the direction of the Regulation of Practice Committee meeting, made on 25  January 2018, directing the respondent solicitor be given two alternative dates  for inspection of his practice, by not responding to the Society to confirm  agreement to inspection on either Thursday 15 February 2018 or Friday 2 March  2018, 
4)   Failed to comply with  the directions of the Regulation of Practice Committee, thus causing the Law  Society of Ireland to make an application to the High Court for an order  pursuant to section 18 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 2002 prohibiting him from practising as a solicitor until such time  as he was fully compliant with the provisions of the Solicitors  Accounts Regulations, 
5)   Failed to comply with  High Court orders made on 9 April 2018, 9 May 2018, 11 June 2018, 30 July 2018  and 5 November 2018, 
6)   Failed to submit a  closing or final reporting accountant’s report following the cessation of his  practice, contrary to regulation 33(2) of the Solicitors Accounts Regulations. 
The tribunal ordered that the matter  should go forward to the High Court and, on 1 July 2019, in proceedings 2019/49  SA, the High Court ordered that: 
1)   The respondent  solicitor continue to be suspended and prohibited from practising as a  solicitor until such time as he has fully complied with the provisions of the Solicitors  Accounts Regulations, as originally ordered  by the High Court on 9 April 2018, and affirmed in subsequent orders of the  High Court on 8 May 2018, 11 June 2018 and 5 November 2018, 
2)   In the event that the  respondent solicitor does become compliant with the provisions of the Solicitors  Accounts Regulations to the satisfaction of  the Law Society of Ireland, the respondent solicitor is to apply to the High  Court to lift the suspension order if he intends to resume practice and, in  that event, that he not be permitted to practise as a sole practitioner or in a  partnership, but only to practise as an assistant solicitor in the employment  and under the direct control and supervision of another solicitor of at least ten  years’ standing, to be approved in advance by the Law Society of Ireland, 
3)   The respondent  solicitor pay the measured and agreed costs of the within application, 
4)   The respondent  solicitor pay the costs of the application in the Solicitors Disciplinary  Tribunal proceedings 2018/DT80 in the measured sum advocated by the Law  Society, 
5)   The respondent  solicitor pay the costs of the applicant in Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal  proceedings 2018/DT106 as measured by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.