A law firm that engaged a solicitor as an independent contractor has been found to have employed and dismissed her, after the Fair Work Commission ruled that the reality of the working relationship outweighed the terms of their contractor agreement.

The NSW Supreme Court’s Chief Judge in Equity has labelled a barrister’s apologies for civil contempt of court as “mealy-mouthed” and ordered him to pay a $25,000 penalty.

Murdoch University has appointed Professor Alan Berman, previously the dean of law at Charles Darwin University, as the new dean of its School of Law and Criminology.

A rural-based boutique firm director has highlighted the challenges and opportunities of taking over an established practice, sharing lessons on succession, leadership, and modernising a firm while preserving its community roots.