A man has been struck from the roll of lawyers after cheating in an ethics exam. Hendrick Jan van Es was found to be ''not a fit and proper person'' to remain on the Supreme Court's local roll of lawyers because he had taken forbidden notes, tucked down his trousers, into an ''ethics for barristers'' examination.

Invigilator Christopher D'Aeth said Mr van Es took an ''unusually large'' bundle of papers into the exam room on February 24, 2012. Asked to show the contents of the papers, Mr van Es refused and, after being told the alternative was to leave the exam, exited the room.

Struck off: a lawyer has been banned after cheating in an ethics test. Credit:Rob Homer

CCTV footage shows that, once outside, Mr van Es sorted through his materials, separated some documents and tucked them down his trousers underneath his jumper.

He then attempted to re-enter the examination room but was refused.

At a meeting with the NSW Bar Association three days later, Mr van Es denied having brought unauthorised material into the exam. When informed of CCTV footage, he admitted bringing the material.

In a letter to the Bar Association's executive director, Mr van Es later wrote: "I am ashamed of my actions."

Mr van Es was ordered to pay costs of $11,000.