Samina Ahmed recorded false time entries for 7,551.70 hours of work between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022 — an average of 28.24 hours per day.

The misleading time entries were used to bill the Legal Aid Agency (LAA), which ultimately overpaid more than £98,000 to the firm where Ahmed worked, which it subsequently had to repay.

The Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) found that Ahmed was motivated by her firm’s bonus scheme, which rewarded high billing.

She aimed to reach the highest bonus tier — 400 per cent of salary — which could have earned her £69,300, though her misconduct was ultimately discovered before any bonus was paid.

“As a result of Ms Ahmed’s conduct falling far below expected standards, she acted dishonestly, failed to act with integrity, undermined public trust and confidence in the profession and misled both the LAA, into paying for work, which was not done, and the firm, into believing that she was eligible for a bonus,” the tribunal said.

Ahmed was struck off the roll of solicitors and ordered to pay costs of £5,000.