Icarus falls: the coal health scandal

Boon, A. and Whyte, A. 2012. Icarus falls: the coal health scandal. Legal Ethics. 15 (2), pp. 277-313. https://doi.org/10.5235/LE.15.2.277

TitleIcarus falls: the coal health scandal
AuthorsBoon, A. and Whyte, A.
Abstract

The handling of cases under the Coal Health Compensation Schemes, set up in 1999 to compensate miners suffering from workplace medical conditions, resulted in over 100 solicitors from more than 30 firms facing disciplinary proceedings. Three were struck off, three suspended and over forty fined following the largest investigation ever mounted by the regulator. This article examines the political and regulatory context of the scandal, describes one of the cases presented to the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal and examines the relevance of theories of transgression to professional disciplinary matters. It concludes by considering the regulatory impacts and implications of the scandal.

JournalLegal Ethics
Journal citation15 (2), pp. 277-313
ISSN1460-728X
YearDec 2012
PublisherHart
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.5235/LE.15.2.277
Publication dates
PublishedDec 2012

Related outputs

‘Trusted to the ends of the earth?’ An Analysis of Solicitors’ Disciplinary Processes in England and Wales from 1994 to 2015
Whyte, A. and Boon, A. 2024. ‘Trusted to the ends of the earth?’ An Analysis of Solicitors’ Disciplinary Processes in England and Wales from 1994 to 2015. in: Chan, K-W., McMorrow, J.A. and Sherr, A. (ed.) Regulating Lawyers Through Disciplinary Systems Routledge. pp. 129-157

Do Prizes Have Any Point? The Potential for Diversity Initiatives to Change the Ethnic Profile of the Solicitors’ Profession
Whyte, A. 2024. Do Prizes Have Any Point? The Potential for Diversity Initiatives to Change the Ethnic Profile of the Solicitors’ Profession. in: Whyte, A., Tuitt, P. and Bourne, J. (ed.) The Long Walk to Equality London University of Westminster. pp. 77-112

Introduction
Whyte, A. 2024. Introduction. in: Whyte, A., Tuitt, P. and Bourne, J. (ed.) The Long Walk to Equality London University of Westminster. pp. 1-12

An explosion of legal philanthropy?: The transformation of pro bono legal services in England and Wales
Whyte, A. and Boon, A. 2022. An explosion of legal philanthropy?: The transformation of pro bono legal services in England and Wales. in: Global Pro Bono: Causes, Context, and Contestation Cambridge Cambridge University Press. pp. 269-317

An Explosion of Legal Philanthropy? The Transformation of Pro Bono Legal Services in England and Wales
Boon, A and Whyte, A. 2022. An Explosion of Legal Philanthropy? The Transformation of Pro Bono Legal Services in England and Wales. in: Cummings, S., De Sa E Silva, F. and Trubek, L. (ed.) Global Pro Bono: Causes, Consequences, and Contestation Cambridge Cambridge University Press.

'Trusted to the Ends of the Earth?’ An Analysis of Solicitors’ Disciplinary Processes in England and Wales from 1994 to 2015
Boon, A. and Whyte, A. 2021. 'Trusted to the Ends of the Earth?’ An Analysis of Solicitors’ Disciplinary Processes in England and Wales from 1994 to 2015. International Journal of the Legal Profession. 28 (2), pp. 129-157. https://doi.org/10.1080/09695958.2021.1889560

Lawyer Disciplinary Processes: An Empirical Study of Solicitors’ Misconduct Cases in England and Wales in 2015
Boon, A. and Whyte, A. 2019. Lawyer Disciplinary Processes: An Empirical Study of Solicitors’ Misconduct Cases in England and Wales in 2015. Legal Studies. 39 (3), pp. 455-478. https://doi.org/10.1017/lst.2018.45

The disciplinary processes of the legal profession
Boon, A., Whyte, A. and Sherr, A. 2013. The disciplinary processes of the legal profession. London University of Westminster Law Press.

What difference does it make? Facilitative judicial mediation of discrimination cases in employment tribunals
Boon, A., Urwin, P.J. and Karuk, V. 2011. What difference does it make? Facilitative judicial mediation of discrimination cases in employment tribunals. Industrial Law Journal. 40 (1), pp. 45-81. https://doi.org/10.1093/indlaw/dwq030

Professionalism under the Legal Services Act 2007
Boon, A. 2011. Professionalism under the Legal Services Act 2007. International Journal of the Legal Profession. 17 (3), pp. 195-232.

The legal professions as stakeholders in the academy in England and Wales
Boon, A. and Webb, J. 2010. The legal professions as stakeholders in the academy in England and Wales. in: Cownie, F. (ed.) Stakeholders in the law school Oxford Hart. pp. 65-96

Will there be blood? Students as stakeholders in the legal academy
Boon, A. and Whyte, A. 2010. Will there be blood? Students as stakeholders in the legal academy. in: Cownie, F. (ed.) Stakeholders in the law school Oxford Hart. pp. 185-224

Evaluating the use of judicial mediation in employment tribunals: processes, outcomes and costs
Urwin, P.J., Chevalier, P.A., Karuk, V., Latreille, P., Michielsens, E., Page, L., Siara, B., Speckesser, S. and Boon, A. 2009. Evaluating the use of judicial mediation in employment tribunals: processes, outcomes and costs. Commissioned by the Ministry of Justice.

Straight there, no detours: direct access to barristers
Flood, J. and Whyte, A. 2009. Straight there, no detours: direct access to barristers. International Journal of the Legal Profession. 16 (2&3), pp. 131-152. https://doi.org/10.1080/09695951003588956

Division G: "relationships with others"
Boon, A. 2009. Division G: "relationships with others". in: Marks, A. (ed.) Cordery on Solicitors. 9th edition London LexisNexis. pp. G1-G89

The next generation of legal aid solicitors: the LSC’s Training Grants Scheme
Bacquet, S., Boon, A., Webley, L. and Whyte, A. 2009. The next generation of legal aid solicitors: the LSC’s Training Grants Scheme. in: Buck, A. (ed.) Reaching further: innovation, access and quality in legal services : papers from the Legal Services Research Centre's seventh international research conference, Reaching further, Royal Naval Academy in Greenwich, London, 18th to 20th June 2008 London Stationary Office. pp. 143-165

Legal education and training in England and Wales: back to the future
Boon, A. and Webb, J. 2008. Legal education and training in England and Wales: back to the future. Journal of Legal Education. 58 (1), pp. 79-121.

Evaluation of the Legal Service Commission's Training Contract Grant Scheme
Bacquet, S., Boon, A., Webley, L. and Whyte, A. 2008. Evaluation of the Legal Service Commission's Training Contract Grant Scheme. Legal Services Commission.

Straight there no detours: direct access to barristers
Flood, J. and Whyte, A. 2008. Straight there no detours: direct access to barristers. Westminster Law School, University of Westminster.

The ethics and conduct of lawyers in England and Wales. 2nd edition
Boon, A. and Levin, J. 2008. The ethics and conduct of lawyers in England and Wales. 2nd edition. Oxford Hart.

Regulating mediators?
Boon, A., Earle, R. and Whyte, A. 2007. Regulating mediators? Legal Ethics. 10 (1), pp. 26-50.

Looking back: analysing experiences of legal education and training
Boon, A. and Whyte, A. 2007. Looking back: analysing experiences of legal education and training. Law Teacher. 41 (2), pp. 169-190.

Case assignment in English courts
Banakar, R., Flood, J., Webb, J. and Whyte, A. 2007. Case assignment in English courts. in: Langbroek, P.M. and Fabri, M. (ed.) The right judge for each case: a study of case assignment and impartiality in six European judiciaries Antwerp ; Oxford Intersentia.

Special advocacy: political expediency and legal roles in modern judicial systems
Nash, S. and Boon, A. 2006. Special advocacy: political expediency and legal roles in modern judicial systems. Legal Ethics. 9 (1), pp. 101-124.

What's wrong with legal aid?: Lessons from outside the UK
Flood, J. and Whyte, A. 2006. What's wrong with legal aid?: Lessons from outside the UK. Civil Justice Quarterly. 25, pp. 80-98.

Postmodern professions? The fragmentation of legal education and the legal profession
Boon, A., Flood, J. and Webb, J. 2005. Postmodern professions? The fragmentation of legal education and the legal profession. Journal of Law and Society. 32 (3), pp. 473-492. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6478.2005.00333.x

From public service to service industry: the impact of socialisation and work on the motivation and values of lawyers
Boon, A. 2005. From public service to service industry: the impact of socialisation and work on the motivation and values of lawyers. International Journal of the Legal Profession. 12 (2), pp. 229-260. https://doi.org/10.1080/09695950500226599

Cause lawyers and the alternative ethical paradigm: ideology and transgression
Boon, A. 2005. Cause lawyers and the alternative ethical paradigm: ideology and transgression. Legal Ethics. 7 (2), pp. 251-268.

Report on international approaches to the defence of indigent persons in criminal cases: a report for Lord Carter's review of legal aid procurement
Flood, J., Whyte, A. and Bacquet, S. 2005. Report on international approaches to the defence of indigent persons in criminal cases: a report for Lord Carter's review of legal aid procurement. London, UK Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Internal case assignment in England
Flood, J., Banakar, R., Webb, J. and Whyte, A. 2005. Internal case assignment in England. in: Fabri, M. and Langbroek, P.M. (ed.) Internal case assignment. A report on a comparative study into the rules and practices of case distribution in courts in five countries Utrecht, Netherlands University of Utrecht. pp. 63-134

The formalisation of research ethics
Boon, A. 2005. The formalisation of research ethics. in: Banakar, R. and Travers, M. (ed.) Theory and method in socio-legal research Oxford, UK Hart. pp. 301-326

Alternative dispute resolution: a mapping exercise on accreditation schemes
Boon, A. and Whyte, A. 2004. Alternative dispute resolution: a mapping exercise on accreditation schemes. London, UK University of Westminster.

Report on costs of legal aid in other countries
Flood, J. and Whyte, A. 2004. Report on costs of legal aid in other countries. UK University of Westminster.

Ethics in legal education and training: four reports, three jurisdictions and a prospectus
Boon, A. 2002. Ethics in legal education and training: four reports, three jurisdictions and a prospectus. Legal Ethics. 5 (1), pp. 34-67.

Career paths and choices in a highly differentiated profession: the position of newly qualified solicitors
Boon, A., Duff, L. and Shiner, M. 2001. Career paths and choices in a highly differentiated profession: the position of newly qualified solicitors. Modern Law Review. 64 (4), pp. 563-594. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2230.00339

Cause lawyers in a cold climate: the impact(s) of globalization on the United Kingdom
Boon, A. 2001. Cause lawyers in a cold climate: the impact(s) of globalization on the United Kingdom. in: Sarat, A. and Scheingold, S. (ed.) Cause lawyering and the state in a global era Oxford, UK Oxford University Press. pp. 143-184

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/8z242/icarus-falls-the-coal-health-scandal


Share this

Usage statistics

149 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.