Unregistered barrister disbarred after claiming to be practising lawyer in job application

An unregistered barrister has been disbarred after he claimed he was a practising barrister in a job application for a university.

Yasser Mahmood was found to have behaved in a way which is likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or in the profession and/or could; reasonably be seen by the public to undermine his integrity and/or honesty by an independent disciplinary tribunal.

Mahmood had applied for a job at Arden University. During the application process Mahmood represented that he was a practising barrister and set out a range of work he had carried out as a barrister when he had never undertaken pupillage, nor had he ever held a practising certificate.

The Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service found the charge against him provided and was ordered to be disbarred and to pay £2,670 costs to the Bar Standards Board.

The five-person panel also ordered Mahmood, called to the bar in July 2010, not be issued with a practising certificate until the conclusion of any appeal or the disbarment comes into effect.

A BSB spokesperson said: ‘The public should be able to reasonably expect that barristers are accurate in representing any practising history or entitlement to practise as a barrister. By dishonestly including such details, Mr Mahmood’s behaviour falls short of the high standards of integrity and honesty expected of those called to the bar and the tribunal’s decision to disbar him reflects this.’

The tribunal’s decision is open to appeal.