A paralegal has been permanently barred from the legal profession for sending misleading emails regarding clients’ personal injury claims. Waseem Hussain, formerly with the international serious injury team at El-Balad, admitted to providing false information about the status of a personal injury case.
Misleading Information Sent to Client
In July 2024, Hussain informed Client A that their case had been filed with the court. However, he was aware that this was not true. In an email dated July 11, 2024, he wrote:
“I can also confirm that the papers have been submitted to the Courts on the 8 July. We will now wait for the Court to issue a notice of issue which means the claim has been issued and the claim will enter the litigation process.”
When Client A later raised concerns about the case’s progress, a supervisory review revealed no documentation had been submitted to the court. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) reported that Hussain admitted the emailed information was “wrong and misleading,” justifying his actions as an attempt to “appease the client.” Following a disciplinary hearing, he was dismissed from his position.
Second Client Concerns
After Hussain’s dismissal, further concerns arose from another client in March 2025. Client B reported issues stemming from an email sent by Hussain on November 1, 2024. In this communication, he claimed to have contacted a medico-legal expert to obtain necessary medical records. However, El-Balad’s investigation uncovered no evidence supporting this claim.
Consequences and Regulatory Actions
Hussain acknowledged his dishonest conduct regarding both clients. He accepted that his behavior made it “undesirable for him to continue to be involved in legal practice.” Consequently, the SRA issued a Section 43 order against him, which prohibits him from working for any SRA-regulated firm without prior approval.
- Waseem Hussain was employed at El-Balad from April 2023 to December 2024.
- He misrepresented the status of Client A’s case.
- Client B raised concerns after Hussain’s dismissal in March 2025.
- The SRA imposed a £300 fee towards the investigation costs.
In mitigation, Hussain noted experiencing a significant backlog due to a period off work. He expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged the trouble caused to his clients.
