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A ChatGPT-generated firing and ‘realistic’ hiring expectations: What’s hot in law this week (15–19 July)

The recruitment market is shifting back in favour of employers, and BigLaw firms are expanding while a big four firm has cut its legal division. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.

user iconJerome Doraisamy • 20 July 2024 • Big Law
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For the week from 15 July to 19 July, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):

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  1. Adelaide lawyer’s ‘incompetence’ stuns disciplinary committee
Despite being reassured time and again that his matter “was in hand”, an Adelaide business owner’s matter was left to crash and burn before a court because of the “incompetence” of his lawyer.

  1. KPMG cuts legal division, 30 jobs in major restructure
The big four firm has announced a restructure of its legal business less than a month after its $80 million consulting restructure.

  1. Sparke Helmore promotes 37, including 5 partners
National law firm Sparke Helmore has promoted five to the partnership, as well as 32 others to senior positions.

  1. Gadens enters Canberra, adds team of 37
National law firm Gadens has expanded to Canberra and merged with a boutique, gaining seven partners and 30 staff.

  1. Legal assistant says he was fired in ChatGPT text message
The director of a Perth boutique firm fired a legal assistant in a text message drafted by artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT.

  1. Lawyer’s removalist company faces misleading conduct claims
A legal practitioner’s NSW removalist company has faced allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct, but the accuser was ordered to pay more than $70,000 into a court before he can take them further.

  1. Sydney firm overcomes ‘deficiencies’ in $300k fee fight
A Sydney boutique firm that spent years chasing a client over $300,000 in unpaid fees has won yet another court battle despite earlier findings that its disclosures were “deficient”.

  1. Legal Practice Board wrong to investigate compensation firm, court finds
A court criticised the West Australian Legal Practice Board for its decision to audit a compensation firm after it received a complaint that one of the legal assistants was allegedly holding himself out to be a lawyer.

  1. Slater & Gordon self-reports to Fair Work over underpayments, understated leave balances
National law firm Slater & Gordon has identified a payroll error in leave accrual, which it believes has resulted in a collective underpayment of at least $300,000 for around 100 of its current and former employees.

  1. ‘Lawyers going to market need to be realistic’ in FY24–25
In an employer’s market, this recruiter advised candidates against going into the job market for the wrong reasons, as employers are giving out job offers to fewer candidates and being stricter with their hiring processes.

Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.

You can email Jerome at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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