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Impostor syndrome, pronouns, and pink branding: What’s hot in law this week (30 Sept–4 Oct)
As the year’s end draws closer, BigLaw firms are looking to shore up their market presence, and the number of practices offering non-traditional pricing structures continues to grow. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
Lawyers Weekly
For the week from 30 September to 4 October, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
1. Client makes urgent bid to freeze law firm’s assets
A Melbourne man urgently asked a court for a freezing order to prevent his former firm from disposing of almost $1 million in assets before it can repay a substantial loan.
2. Judgment revisited after pronoun complaint
Following a complaint to the Judicial Conduct Commissioner, a South Australian judicial officer revisited a judgment to correct pronouns.
3. Legal assistant claims she was unfairly fired from Qld firm
A Queensland law firm was unable to prevent a legal assistant based in the Philippines from pursuing an unfair dismissal application.
4. A judge’s tips on using impostor syndrome for good
Despite being rendered breathless by an early experience on the County Court bench, Judge Frank Gucciardo says that moment of impostor syndrome developed into an important lesson for his role.
5. Mills Oakley adds 3 new partners
National law firm Mills Oakley has grown its partnership to almost 170, appointing partners across three capital cities.
6. Sparke Helmore opens in Cairns with trio from Holding Redlich
National law firm has expanded into northern Queensland, opening its 10th national office, with a trio from BigLaw rival Holding Redlich, who will sit in the firm’s planning environment and local government team.
7. Why my law firm has all-pink branding
The founder of Tully Law, Australia’s first all-pink law firm, explains why her practice (and the cafe attached to her firm’s premises) have such specific colour-based branding, and the psychological importance for clients of leaning into the colour pink.
8. Dentons adds trio from Holding Redlich for employment and safety practice
Global law firm Dentons has moved to bolster the ranks of its employment and safety practice with the appointment of a partner and two special counsel from BigLaw rival Holding Redlich.
9. Large firms ‘increasingly expected’ to prioritise pro bono
In the face of “inconsistent” performances towards the National Pro Bono Target in the last year by larger law firms, practices that are falling short need to be aware not only of their professional responsibilities but also of the potential for governments and corporations to seek providers elsewhere.
10. Fixed fee, alternate pricing arrangements increasingly offered by firms
The number of Australian law firms providing fixed fee and alternate pricing arrangements continues to grow, according to new research.
