A ‘DISHONEST’ paralegal who falsified a client’s medical records in an attempt to get a quick settlement has been banned from practising in the legal profession.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority made the ruling against Nooryana Zahe after deciding it ‘would be undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice’.

Zahe had worked as a paralegal at Blackburn-based Lawson Taylor Solicitors Ltd from February 26, 2015, until her contract was terminated on November 2, 2016.

She is not currently employed in legal services.

An SRA spokesman said: “Nooryana Zaheer, who was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor, has occasioned or been a party to, with or without the connivance of a solicitor, an act or default in relation to a legal practice which involved conduct on her part of such a nature that in the opinion of the Society it would be undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice.

“Nooryana Zaheer was employed as a paralegal for Lawson Taylor Solicitors Ltd from February 26, 2015 until November 2, 2016. She was found to have amended a medical report to assist her client in achieving a quick settlement. When challenged about the report, she withdrew her client’s claim without his consent. Her conduct was found to be dishonest.

“Nooryana Zaheer’s contract was terminated on November 2, 2016. She is currently not employed in legal services.”

Under the terms of the SRA no solicitor shall employ or remunerate Zaheer in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor; no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with a solicitor’s practice; no recognised body shall employ or remunerate her; no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the business of that body; no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to be a manager of the body; and and no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to have an interest in the body. A legal firm wishing to employ Zaheer will have to apply to the SRA for permission.

Lawson Taylor Solicitors, which handles legal matters for individuals and businesses, was established in 2009.

Nobody from Lawson Taylor Solicitors, which has its Blackburn base in Blakewater Road, was available for comment.