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Lawyers warned about integrity traps
The Legal Services Commissioner has reminded the profession of integrity traps after the Magistrates Court of Victoria on Friday convicted and charged a lawyer.
The New Lawyer
The Magistrates’ Court found Paul William Judd guilty of two charges of commencing employment in a law practice without having first informed his prospective employer of his previous relevant prior convictions. He was convicted and fined $2,000 following charges brought against him by the Legal Services Board.
The Board’s investigation revealed that in the previous 12 months, Judd had become a lay associate of two local law practices, without informing the law practices of his prior convictions.
Legal Services Commissioner and Board CEO, Michael McGarvie, said that this law was not often fully understood by partners of law firms.
But McGarvie said failing to follow the strict rules of integrity and honesty in the legal profession can have serious consequences for the employee, or potentially the law firm. In this case the firm did not know of his prior convictions, so the criminal penalty applies to Judd, the employee. Law firms can employ an individual with prior convictions, however they must first get permission from the Board first.
In this field, he said, rules of integrity extend beyond licensed lawyers to ‘lay associates’ as well.
“Heavy criminal penalties apply to employees themselves if they fail to notify their employer of this information. Lawyers employing staff can risk major disciplinary findings that could imperil their practising certificates when employing non-legal people who have been found guilty of dishonesty offences like theft.
“The reputation of firms can suffer as a result of either of these outcomes. They must get the regulator’s permission if they are to avoid major penalties. This issue is highlighted by the findings in the Magistrates’ Court today.”
Judd was also ordered to pay the Board’s costs of $5,000. Although the charges were admitted in this case, Judd has 28 days to appeal the sanction.
