If a lawyer is struck off they are not allowed to practise law. Photo / File
An Auckland lawyer who used client funds his pay his business debts has been struck off.
Frederick William Baker pleaded guilty to charges before the Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal and said he took full responsibility for his actions.
He was struck off by the tribunal, meaning he can no
longer practise law.
The Law Society said that Baker - who ran his own small firm - misused client funds and failed to keep trust account records. His offending took place over four years, the society said.
"A law firm's trust account must be a completely safe repository for the money of its clients. It must never be overdrawn or even be at the risk of being overdrawn," New Zealand Law Society president Kathryn Beck said.
