A lawyer hauled before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal after appearing in court dressed as "something out of Harry Potter" has lost his battle to prevent the charges against him being made public.

The SRA refers to the solicitor as Dr Alan Blacker. However Blacker refers to himself as "Dr The Right Honourable The Lord Harley of Counsel of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem". He turned up at Cardiff Crown Court looking like the best in show at Crufts, adorned with flowing locks and endless medals and badges. The judge asked what they were (essentially first aid badges), why he was wearing them in court (because his imaginary friend told him he could) and why, given that he wasn't a member of the privy council or a peer, was he using such a ridiculous title (because he made it up the earldom was Irish).

    This man thinks that you think that he's a lord.

It was a fantastic exchange, although one which may now spell the ruin of Blacker. He has been charged with recklessly misleading the court and making (or allowing to be made) claims to be entitled to use titles which were inaccurate and misleading. He has also been charged with making inaccurate statements about his academic qualifications,  appointments and accreditations. Rather more seriously if less entertainingly, he's also facing charges of failing to maintain proper accounts and failing to co-operate with the SRA.

Blacker describes himself on his superb LinkedIn page as the "Mozart of the courtroom" and "almost a national treasure" although not, interestingly, as a "delusional fantasist who likes dressing up and pretending to be important". But as a practising solicitor, that's enough for the SRA to go after him.

A case management hearing was held on Wednesday and a further one will be held in due course.
 
Tip Off ROF

Comments

Anonymous 06 November 15 09:11

We laugh but is this man having a mental breakdown and does he need to be in care?

Anonymous 06 November 15 09:44

There are pressures on many in the profession and a couple of days after a Freshfields partner threw himself off a building in Washington DC, it's worth remembering that people who are going through difficult times need to be treated kindly (even if their behaviour seems off-key).

Anonymous 06 November 15 12:18

The charges levied by the SRA are, as the article states, cause for concern if there is a likely impact on clients or potential clients. Be interested to read about Lord Harley's defence.

Glad to see that the SRA is jumping on this chap who (as other commenters have noted) may merely be a colourful character within a mere12 month period of coming to their attention. However, other lawyers who actually defraud clients of huge sums are not brought to heel by the BRB/SRA until well after any criminal prosecution.

I am convinced the SRA relies on RoF to hear about these people...

Roll On Friday 10 November 15 12:11

Having spoken with the chap for a good while one evening a few years ago when he made contact, it was clear he had only good intentions towards his clients and the referrals he sought.

Thankfully, there was little of use for the 000's we regularly struggled to find appropriate representations for.

There remains in poor (in health and finance), injured and vulnerable consumers seeking the skilled practitioners to provide the legal expertise needed after being generally misled, misinformed and considerably deceived by the 'churners' whom worked to secure the profits for their other clients when asserting what the consumer clients could not recover against wrongdoing insurers.

The so-called Legal Expense Insurance (LEI) cover sold to them by the same wrongdoing insurers remain one of the biggest risks to every normal solicitor.

While the SRA selects which Formal Reports to act upon it seems more than likely consumers will find the many sprouting ABS and their common, often open perverted conflicted undisclosed fiduciary conflicts of interests the winners.

This struggling Lord Harley appears more likely to have self-harmed his 'public persona' rather than maybe the 00,000's of consumers being processed through churner firms?

Too soon yet, but after the malfeasances in public office of the FOS become convicted offences, the by then £00,000,000's to be reclaimed by consumers will provide for ever work for normal solicitors whom should have always have had the £000,000's taken by unregulated (effective) PPI traders?

Anonymous 10 November 15 13:35

I couldn't agree more.

Yours aye,

His Serene Highness Professor Admiral Lord Doctor Prince Louie Louie, 1st Earl Zeal Monochorum, Knight Bachelor of the Cross of Moped of St Kayden of Edmonton, Bronze Swimming Certificate, Cycling Proficiency (First Class).