Solicitors Regulation Authority imposes sanction on apprentice solicitor

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued a section 43 order against apprentice solicitor Owen Goodhand following findings of dishonesty. Goodhand, who was training at Martin Tolhurt Partnership LLP, was dismissed from the firm in June 2025 after it was revealed he had misled supervisors regarding an absence from work.

Goodhand had claimed he was absent due to illness on March 28, 2025, when he had actually been arrested as part of a police investigation. Although the police investigation was later closed with no further action, Goodhand failed to disclose the arrest when directly questioned by his supervisor. He subsequently admitted to being “dishonest” during a meeting with the firm’s compliance officer.

The SRA determined that Goodhand’s conduct made it undesirable for him to be involved in legal practice without prior regulatory approval. He has been ordered to pay the SRA’s costs of £600.