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Crackdown on partner profits and client files in shambles: What’s hot in law this week (29 Jul–2 Aug)

This week, a jailed magistrate in South Australia was removed from the roll, and another judge faced corruption accusations from an ousted solicitor and fake lawyer. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.

user iconLawyers Weekly • 03 August 2024 • Big Law
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For the week from 29 July to 2 August, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):

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  1. Jailed SA magistrate who conspired with solicitor struck from roll
A former South Australian magistrate was removed from the roll of practitioners four years after he served at least 12 months behind bars for conspiring with a solicitor and former partner.

  1. Lawyer reprimanded, fined for leaving client files in shambles
An NSW lawyer was reprimanded and banned from working as a principal for five years for numerous offences, including meddling with official documents and leaving client files that dealt with purchases worth millions of dollars in shambles.

 
 

  1. Court told of ‘scandalous’ criminal claims about barrister, solicitor
A woman sentenced for fraud offences and her solicitor made numerous “scandalous” and baseless allegations of misconduct against an opposing party’s solicitor and barrister.

  1. Child sexual abuse victim accuses law firm of negligence
A law firm was accused of negligently advising a victim of institutional child sexual abuse to settle his claim against the state of Victoria.

  1. Firm accused of pushing client into ‘hopeless’ proceedings
A disgruntled client lashed out at his former firm of solicitors with accusations it allowed him to proceed with a defence despite knowing his matter was hopeless and “doomed to fail”.

  1. Why a court upheld Berejiklian’s corruption findings
Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian failed to overturn findings she engaged in “serious corrupt conduct” because of an undisclosed relationship with colleague Daryl Maguire. Lawyers Weekly explains why.

  1. Disciplinary register: Suspension, reprimands handed to lawyers in June and July
In the last two months, several lawyers were added to legal disciplinary registers and handed a range of penalties, from suspension of a practising certificate to reprimands, fines, and costs. Here are the latest entries.

  1. Australian YouTuber hit with landmark action alleging defamation
An Australian YouTube content creator is being sued over product reviews, which Lawyers Weekly understands is likely the first case of its kind in Australia.

  1. Partner profits to face ATO crackdown
Tougher guidelines from the ATO on income splitting apply to all arrangements starting this month, marking the end of a three-year transition period.

  1. Judge accused of corruption by ousted solicitor, fake lawyer
The ongoing saga triggered by a fake lawyer’s alleged threats, an ousted solicitor, and the law firm they operated has been derailed by yet another attempt to have the judge recuse himself on the grounds of corrupt conduct and “morally perverse” comments.

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