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Top 10 Fair Work and lawyer termination stories in 2024
Over the last 12 months several lawyers were ousted and many of them turned to the Fair Work Commission for compensation. Here we take a look at the top 10 stories involving Fair Work matters and terminations.
Naomi Neilson
Lawyers were terminated for a number of reasons this year, including for their internet search history, padding a junior solicitor’s billable hours, and setting up camp in their law firm’s office.
The Fair Work commission also heard from law firms, including Slater and Gordon, who self-reported underpayments.
Here are the top 10 Fair Work and termination stories of the year:
1. NSW lawyer fired for internet search history
An intellectual property firm was ordered to compensate a former employee it dismissed over his internet browsing history.
2. Sydney lawyer fired after salary cut in half
A lawyer claimed she was fired the day after she called in sick for mental health distress by a director who regularly threatened to terminate her employment and halved her salary without sufficient notice.
3. Fired lawyer’s misconduct deeply sickened colleagues, Fair Work told
A solicitor was fired from Men’s Legal Service over a number of serious misconduct allegations, including one that “deeply sickened” the lawyers who had to take over one of her cases.
4. Solicitor who slept in law firm fails to appeal Fair Work decision
A regional lawyer who said she was forced to quit because she was sleeping in her law firm’s office has appealed a Fair Work decision.
5. Clifford Chance fires partner following serious misconduct allegations
Global law firm Clifford Chance has terminated one of its Perth-based partners following an internal investigation into allegations of serious misconduct.
6. Boutique firm penalised for underpaying staff
A Bankstown law firm has been hit with pecuniary penalties after it failed to pay an employee the minimum wage.
7. Regional lawyer claims she was unfairly fired in 2 days
The lawyer who said she was forced out of her job because she was sleeping in the firm’s offices has made an unfair dismissal complaint against another practice she worked at for just two days.
8. HWL Ebsworth’s expulsion of capital partner amid IPO ‘invalid’
Major Australian firm HWL Ebsworth breached its partnership deed when it expelled a capital partner who was shut out of the failed IPO.
9. 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.
10. Fired Gadens employee given last chance to pursue unfair dismissal proceedings
A former Gadens employee who has dragged her feet on unfair dismissal proceedings was warned that one more request for an adjournment could end with her declared a vexatious litigant.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
