A LAWYER was yesterday fined £2,000 for copying confidential information from his firm after handing in his resignation.

Neil Large admitted copying 146 floppy disks of precedents on case law belonging to his employers, Newcastle law firm Ward Hadaway.

The confidential information included templates for letters and documents that Large, of Madrona Close, Biddick Woods, Houghton-le- Spring, Wearside, planned to use throughout his legal career.

The 32-year-old worked with the company for six years and handed in his resignation to join rival firm Watson Burton, the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal heard.

The commercial law specialist initially told his boss he had not copied company files, but admitted the offence days later in a letter dated March 21, 2003.

Large apologised to his firm and showed how he had wiped all the files from his computer, the tribunal heard.

The hearing was told that Large was saddened and ashamed by his actions.

He was found guilty of one charge of improperly copying information and documents, which were the property of the law firm, in Sandgate House, Quayside, Newcastle.

The tribunal had accepted that Large had not been dishonest when copying the files.

In addition to the £2,000 fine, he was ordered to pay £1,200 in costs.