Stephen Merchant's character in Outlaws (spoilers ahead)

[MollyBloomYes]

I'm only on the second episode so it's mild spoilers (and please don't reveal anything from the rest of the series!)

However...he's playing a solicitor. Who gets arrested for being caught with a prostitute in a car park. But later on in the episode he's shown still at work being teased by colleagues and told that the partners are unhappy with him and he needs to start impressing them if he wants to keep his job.

Now surely his job would be gone anyway?! Isn't there a code or something for solicitors etc so that if they get arrested and charged/convicted (which he must have done if he's doing community service in lieu of prison) then they're disbarred.

I know, I KNOW it's only a tv series. But it's really bugging me and I need to know if this is the case or whether I've dreamed this up! It won't alter my enjoyment of the programme, I just really need to know whether I've got this information right or not!

Thanks Mumsnetters!

Yes in reality he may have been suspended and struck off but its not exactly a series steeped in realism.

Great series, I really liked it, funny, moving and warm.

Struck off meaning lost his practising certificate.

Can't comment on the question but have to say we binge watched the entire series the other night . So brilliantly written and funny. Can't wait for the next series.

If it was a first offence then he wouldn't be struck off or even suspended. Its generally only for fraud or dishonesty that solicitors are struck off.

Ahhhh thank you. I thought it was anything illegal that got you struck off. But then actually it's not hiring a prostitute that's illegal is it? Isn't it running a brothel that's the only actual illegal part of sex work?

Anyway, glad to have that cleared up it was really bothering me.

Agree, it was a wonderful series, I binged the rest of it and loved it!