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Top 10: Wrapping up the fortnight
In this fortnightly wrap-up, Protégé brings law students, graduates, and new lawyers the most important updates from across the legal profession. This time, it includes a look into the suppressed documents in Christian Porter’s trial, a controversial tweet from a high-profile barrister and the future of a female-led profession.
Naomi Neilson
1: Ruling made on suppressed documents in Christian Porter defamation trial
2: WA Bar sides with Julian Burnside over controversial tweet
In a now-deleted tweet, prominent barrister Julian Burnside likened Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians to Nazi Germany, sparking severe backlash from leaders in the Jewish community – and senator Sarah Henderson who called for his name to be removed from the roll. Ms Henderson’s calls have been met with ire from the Western Australian Bar Association, which has criticised her for effectively moving against free speech.
3: The future of #auslaw is female
With the percentage of women in law higher than ever before, more firms are implementing diversity and gender parity measures to ensure female solicitors get equal chances to succeed. In this interview, Lawyers Weekly spoke to four female leaders on what the industry can do for women and where their future lies.
4: Court rules that AI systems can be named inventors
In a world-first, a court has ruled that artificial intelligence systems can be named as inventors of a patent. The finding will mean removing the risk of false attribution to a human when the true inventor is an AI, which could invalidate the patent.
Come September, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia will look very different, starting with a faster and less costly family law system. Despite some heavy criticisms from the wider legal profession, Chief Justice Will Alstergren promises that families, victims of family violence and other clients will be better off.
6: Bernard Collaery prosecution breaching rule of law, ABA says
With little progress and next to no public scrutiny, the Australian Bar Association has called on Attorney-General Michaelia Cash to urgently reconsider the prosecution of Bernard Collaery in the interest of preserving confidence in the justice system.
NSW law firms are being encouraged to implement a new workplace guide around sexual harassment and discrimination within employment and recruitment practices to foster fairer, diverse and more inclusive legal workplaces.
8: Why firms should overhaul their WFH policy
While the pandemic has paved the way for greater WFH opportunities, firms need to establish new practices, policies, and regulations to accompany them. In this interview, Maureen Kyne & Associates principal Maureen Kyne shares that organisations need to implement practices that reflect long-term requirements.
9: ‘It’s high pressure’: What working on a royal commission is really like
On a new episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Holding Redlich partner and winner of the BigLaw Partner of the Year category at last year’s Women in Law Awards, Alexander Tighe, explained what working on royal commissions is actually like and reflected on what she’s learnt from the experience.
10: 2021 Australian Law Awards postponed until December
In light of continuing lockdowns in Greater Sydney, Lawyers Weekly will host this year’s Australian Law Awards in December. Learn about the new date here.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
