Ex-Slaughter and May associate struck off after lying in pupillage application

A former Slaughter and May junior associate has been struck off after acting dishonestly and providing false information in a pupillage application.

In his 2022 pupillage application to Erskine Chambers, Maximillian Campbell claimed he had achieved a double starred first from Cambridge - among the university’s highest possible results - and had won the "Slaughter & May Prize" for best overall performance in his final undergraduate year.

At the time of the application, Campbell was working as an associate at Slaughters but was exploring a move to the Bar. When Erskine Chambers contacted his referee, Dr Gehring of Cambridge University, to verify the information, Gehring initially confirmed Campbell had received a 2:1, before later following up to say there must have been a case of "mistaken identity".

He added that "Max seems unaware of this application" and forwarded an email from Campbell claiming he had not made the application and suspected he was the victim of a practical joke.

Erskine Chambers informed the SRA, after which Campbell reported himself to the regulator which made enquiries with Slaughters who carried out their own investigation. Campbell then resigned from the firm.

At the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, Campbell admitted all the allegations of dishonesty against him.

Outcome

Highlighting that he fully cooperated with the investigation, the tribunal also noted that Campbell had been suffering from a depressive illness at the time, but said the nature and extent of his dishonesty made striking him off the appropriate outcome.

He was also ordered to pay £6,110 in costs.