A former Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) partner has pleaded guilty to 31 charges stemming from a $400,000 (£250,000) scam he and his wife concocted based on their autistic son's education and medical needs, reports The Am Law Daily.

Jonathan Dickstein – a former co-chair of the US firm's life sciences practice – is set to be sentenced on 15 November following his conviction on charges including grand theft, forgery, insurance fraud, and conspiracy, a spokesman for the San Francisco District Attorney's office confirmed on Friday (21 October).

Dickstein and his wife, Barclay Lynn, were arrested in August 2010 and charged with creating a fictitious in-home care and education provider for their autistic son.

The couple used the fake company, Puzzle Pieces, to double-bill their medical insurance providers, Anthem Blue Cross and MoFo's own self-insurance arm, and the San Francisco Unified School District. School district lawyers alerted authorities to the scam.

Dickstein resigned from MoFo to launch a solo practice five months before he and his wife were arrested. He joined the firm in 1999 and had been a partner since 2001.

Lynn, who also pleaded guilty to 31 counts, was sentenced last month to one day in jail and received credit for time served. She was also sentenced to five years probation, and, along with Dickstein, must repay the stolen money.

The Am Law Daily is a US affiliate title of Legal Week.