Login
Strike-offs and a rate hold: What’s hot in law this week (4–8 Nov)
This week, the Reserve Bank – as was expected – held the cash rate at current levels, and in the courts, we saw numerous practitioners struck from the roll. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
Lawyers Weekly
For the week from 4 to 8 November, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
1. Supreme Court puts end to lawyer, notorious law firm
A Victorian lawyer has claimed a “conspiracy” against himself, his colleagues, and their controversial law firm was behind the Legal Services Board’s decision not to renew his practising certificate.
2. Barrister drops action against solicitor following ‘sad history of litigation’
In the latest chapter in a “sad history of litigation between the parties”, the NSW Supreme Court dismissed appeal proceedings brought by a barrister against a solicitor who retained him.
3. Twice-convicted drug-dealing lawyer struck off
A Sydney lawyer convicted twice for serious drug offences, including selling on the dark web, has been struck from the roll of practitioners.
4. NSW solicitor fails to escape reprimand, unsatisfactory professional conduct finding
While a tribunal accepted the mistake that led to a solicitor’s reprimand was not “egregious”, his behaviour during a disciplinary investigation meant his conduct still fell “well below the standards of competence and diligence” expected of a legal practitioner.
5. WA solicitor removed from roll after several suspensions
Following a “lengthy period” of misconduct, which included the mismanagement of client funds, a West Australian solicitor had his name struck from the roll of legal practitioners.
6. RBA reveals November 2024 cash rate call
The market predicts that the Reserve Bank will not cut interest rates until the new year. Find out, in this special announcement brought to you by Legal Home Loans, if conventional wisdom has foreshadowed the RBA’s decision.
7. The challenges facing law students in 2025
As 2025 draws near, five law students reflect on the unique challenges that await them in the upcoming academic year, which require careful navigation and strategic planning.
8. NACC commissioner engaged in officer misconduct, inspector finds
Judge Paul Brereton, the head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, engaged in officer misconduct amid a decision not to investigate six referrals from the robodebt royal commission.
9. Lehrmann’s new barrister hiding from trolls, court told
The senior counsel representing Bruce Lehrmann at his appeal hearing has asked to remain anonymous over a fear of “trolls”.
10. Solicitor struck off over sham $700k insurance claim
An ACT solicitor who faked injuries to obtain a hefty insurance claim has been struck off the roll of legal practitioners.
