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Strike-offs, burnout, and pro bono commitments: What’s hot in law this week (6–10 Jan)
Several disciplinary judgments resulted in strike-offs and criticisms from the courts. Meanwhile, new research into burnout revealed just how much legal workplaces are taking advantage of staff. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
Naomi Neilson
For the week from 6–10 January, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly:
1. ‘I took it all’: Solicitor struck off over $483k theft from trust account
On top of a four-year term of imprisonment, an NSW lawyer has been struck off for stealing more than $480,000 from his trust account.
2. Judge recuses herself as a result of Qld Law Society membership
A solicitor who brought proceedings against the Queensland Law Society over an article she was named in has convinced a judge she needs to recuse herself due to his “honorary membership”.
3. Struck-off lawyer who lied about kidnapped children a ‘stain’ on profession
A Victorian family lawyer was struck off for what may be some of the most shocking acts of deception, which escalated from forging signatures to lying about children being kidnapped.
4. Barrister’s ‘unsuitable’ character makes him unfit for practice, tribunal rules
A Queensland barrister with over three decades of experience lost his practising certificate because a tribunal could not be confident in his character or remorse for a series of criminal blunders.
5. Supreme Court criticises Sydney firm over its handling of interstate case
A Supreme Court judge has hit out at an interstate law firm for failing to understand or review its procedural rules.
6. Adelaide lawyer struck off for $67k theft from family member
In just the five years he was in legal practice, an Adelaide lawyer stole tens of thousands of dollars from a family member, engaged in conduct that enabled a fraudulent loan, and misappropriated $15,000 from a client.
7. Half of burnt-out lawyers say managers contacted them while on leave
Many burnt-out lawyers have said that despite taking leave to recover, they still worked and were contacted by a manager or colleague.
8. Solicitor punished for trying to trade settlement for silence on rape claim
A solicitor has been reprimanded for telling a woman the settlement of her matrimonial dispute was contingent on her making a “no complaint” statement to police in respect of a historic rape allegation.
9. Improving the national approach to workers’ compensation
The exiting national workers’ compensation scheme, one principal argues, is “certainly not fit for purpose” and shouldn’t be implemented nationwide. Here, she details why a better approach, covering workers of all types, is required if workers’ compensation is to better cater to the evolving needs of staff everywhere.
10. Pro bono is ‘no longer a tick box’ for big firms
For this BigLaw special counsel, it has been hugely encouraging to see the elevated investments and priority being placed on pro bono by Australia’s largest law firms, which is better positioning those businesses to create positive change nationwide.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
