HC Deb 05 July 1939 vol 349 c1307W
Mr. Lewis

asked the Attorney-General how many solicitors have been convicted during the past 10 years for misappropriating clients' money and the approximate total amount of the sums involved?

The Attorney-General

During the years 1929 to 1938 inclusive, 83 solicitors were convicted in the Criminal Courts in respect of misappropriation of clients' moneys. There are no records which would enable an approximate total amount of the sums involved to be given. An effort made by the Law Society to arrive at a total amount involved in defalcations over a period of five years, 1933 to 1937, gives a figure of £574,544.