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Law Society closes down city solicitor

Emma Fitzgerald
1/12/2005

A SOLICITOR has had his Salford branch shut down amid concerns over the way the business has been run.

The Law Society is investigating concerns about JC McDermott & Co in Bolton Road, Irlams o'th' Height.

The organisation has appointed an agent to look after the interests of clients to prevent them being left in the lurch.

It is not the first time the solicitor, Joseph Christopher McDermott, 49, has been in trouble with the Law Society. In 2004 he was fined £20,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) after the hearing found him guilty of "a substantial number of serious allegations".

Law Society spokesman Geoffrey Negus said: "We had serious concerns about the way the firm was being run and about the regulatory position of the solicitor. His practising certificate has been suspended."

Mr Negus said the case is likely to be referred to the SDT, where Mr McDermott will be asked to answer allegations about his conduct.

Mr McDermott, whose branch in Tyldesley has also been closed, became a solicitor in May 1991 and began working as a sole practitioner in 1997.

His firm dealt with conveyancing, wills and probate, family law, and landlords and tenancy law.

Jacobs Grundy solicitors, based at The Crescent, Salford, have taken on some of the clients from JC McDermott.

Partner Jonathan Jacobs said: "I'm sure a lot of the clients have been wondering what the hell's going on and some would have been in the middle of property sales.

"Because of the nature of the work done by solicitors a lot of residents will have been caught up in this mess. We're doing all we can to help those who have now come to us."