Solicitor Deborah Searle of New South Wales; repeat offender

The Law Society presented Deborah Jean Searle with a law license in 1987 after she graduated from Dalhousie University School of Law.

The Queensland Civil and Administrative found Debbie guilty of engaging in the following misconduct.

Debbie’s 1^st bite at the Solicitor Misfit Apple Tree

• Engaged in unsatisfactory Professional Conduct
• Annexed settlement correspondence to Affidavits in breach of section 117C Family Law Act 1975 and Rule 10.02 of the Family Law Rules 2004
• Threatened to use material that may lead to criminal proceedings in settlement negotiations
• Engaged in professional misconduct

As a direct consequence of her misconduct, the enablers for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Queensland Bar punished Debbie by gifting her with a complimentary reprimand and imposed a fine of $12,000.00.

Debbie’s 2^nd bite at the Solicitor Misfit Apple Tree

• Disbursed trust money without authority to so act
• Engaged in professional misconduct
• Improperly borrowed funds from her clients
• Failed to identify an investment account as a controlled money account
• Engaged in unsatisfactory Professional Conduct

As a direct consequence of her misconduct, the enablers for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Queensland Bar punished Debbie by gifting her with a complimentary reprimand and imposed a fine of $5,000.00.

As we speak (ca. June 2023), Debbie practices her brand of law with Searle & Associates at 66 Berry Street in North Sydney, New South Wales.