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Disciplinary proceedings, civil penalties and shifting legal roles: What’s hot in law this week (25–29 Sept)

In a week in which various lawyers faced court for alleged misconduct, critical workplace issues like racism and evolving vocational pathways for young practitioners also came to the fore. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.

user iconLawyers Weekly • 30 September 2023 • Big Law
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For the week from 25 September to 29 September, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):

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  1. Managing principal banned for 4 years for covering up ‘inexcusable’ mistake
A Melbourne managing principal who was barred from practising until mid-2027 has told a tribunal she is “incredibly sorry” for submitting a false document to the Supreme Court to cover up an earlier mistake.

  1. Disciplinary orders overturned due to deputy president’s relationship with barrister
A relationship between a deputy president of the Western Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and a barrister has persuaded the state’s Court of Appeal to overturn disciplinary orders made against a Perth solicitor who had been accused of professional misconduct.

  1. Mills Oakley nabs key lawyers from MinterEllison
Mills Oakley’s national public law offering has expanded with the appointments of several MinterEllison leaders.

  1. Melbourne sole practitioner reprimanded for failure to honour undertaking
A Melbourne sole practitioner has been condemned by a tribunal for failing to honour an undertaking on behalf of his client.

  1. Combating racism in the legal profession
OPINION: Racism is alive and well in the legal profession – and needs to be called out, writes Stefanie Costi.

  1. The ‘shift’ in the number of in-house roles being offered to grads
While going straight into an in-house role from law school has historically been considered a more alternative career pathway, this legal counsel said things are changing – and that law students are now being offered more variety.

  1. Lawyers clash in first hearing of actress’s sexual harassment lawsuit
Lawyers for actress Christie Whelan Browne and Oldfield Entertainment clashed over timetables, confidentiality and potential applications to dismiss proceedings ahead of a mediation over the latter’s alleged failure to respond to sexual harassment claims.

  1. NAB’s maximum penalty not substantial enough, judge says
A Federal Court judge who handed NAB the maximum $2.1 million penalty for continuing to charge its customers despite knowing the fees were wrong said the punishment was not enough to deter the banking giant from engaging in similar conduct again.

  1. The ‘direct business ramifications’ of burnout in law
As the foundations underpinning the culture in the legal industry and traditional law firms remain flawed, the managing partner of Hamilton Locke said the firm is investing in additional training for leaders and support for staff to combat burnout and growing mental health issues in a turbulent market.

  1. Seven secures leave to appeal subpoena relating to Roberts-Smith trial
Seven Network has been granted leave to appeal a Federal Court order that it must hand over confidential documents relating to its decision to fund part of Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation trial.

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