Goodbye job applications, hello dream career
Seize control of your career and design the future you deserve with LW career

More contract roles, more promotions, and disciplinary proceedings: What’s hot in law this week (15–19 Jan)

Australia’s courts are opening back up, and market activity is ramping up. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.

user iconLawyers Weekly 20 January 2024 Big Law
expand image

For the week from 15 January to 19 January, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):

  1. Solicitor removed from roll for accusing Chief Justice of corruption
A Victorian solicitor who made a number of “scandalous” and unfounded allegations about the Chief Justice and other judicial officers of the Supreme Court has been removed from the roll.

 
 

  1. ACT lawyer makes ‘nonsense’ claims to remain on roll
An ACT solicitor found guilty of 18 counts of misconduct made a number of strange and baseless claims in an attempt to overturn the decision that his name be removed from the roll of practitioners.

  1. Victorian solicitor pursues ‘fishing expedition’ to snare Legal Services Commissioner
A Victorian solicitor was accused of “fishing” for evidence to support a sensational allegation that the state’s legal disciplinary body had tampered with documents and witness evidence.

  1. Partner, team of 7 join HFW, including lawyers from Clyde & Co
Global law firm HFW has welcomed back a foundational Australian team member, who rejoins the firm as an equity partner and comes across from BigLaw rival Clyde & Co.

  1. Shine Lawyers promotes 35
BigLaw plaintiff firm Shine Lawyers has started 2024 with a promotion round across six jurisdictions, elevating 13 to associate, 11 to senior associate, and 11 to special counsel.

  1. Gold Coast firm’s contentious legal fees questioned
A Queensland court investigated a local firm’s “obscure” costs agreement to determine whether there was a “natural break” between two contentious invoices for legal services.

  1. Complete list of government agencies affected by HWL Ebsworth hack revealed
The full list of government agencies affected by the cyber attack on BigLaw firm HWL Ebsworth has been released by the government, revealing that the impact of the breach was much greater than originally believed.

  1. ‘Pathetic human’: NSW solicitor insults opposing lawyer
A solicitor sent a number of unusual threats and comments to an opposing practitioner, including calling him a “pathetic human” and suggesting he would be responsible for an elderly woman’s death.

  1. Contracting roles in law on the rise, say recruiters
This year will be, as one recruiter puts it, “pivotal” for the legal profession, characterised by “a more fluid workforce”. Such changes to the landscape will require greater adaptability, strategy, and proactivity in legal recruitment.

  1. Clayton Utz promotes 3 to partnership
BigLaw firm Clayton Utz has promoted three new partners across a variety of practice areas.