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Defamatory emails, a ‘rude’ grad, and a $1 raise: What’s hot in law this week (20–24 Jan)
This week, senior lawyers across the profession rejected the idea of unwinding progress to make legal workplaces more diverse and inclusive, and partners outlined what they’re most keen to see in the emerging generation this year. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
Lawyers Weekly
For the week from 20 to 24 January, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
1. Lawyer awarded $160k for former clients’ defamatory emails
A sole practitioner has been awarded $160,000 in damages from former clients who made “grossly defamatory” statements in emails to several high-profile members of the legal profession, including a chief justice, an attorney-general, and a legal disciplinary board.
2. ‘Rude, belligerent’ grad lawyer flings insults at supervisors
A graduate lawyer who applied for an order to stop bullying in his workplace gave evidence that he did not care whether one of his supervisors was “dead or alive” and said he “should have been nastier”.
3. 1-year penalty for barrister who sexually harassed young lawyers
Although recent concerning behaviour showed he has a “considerable way to go”, a high-profile barrister who sexually harassed three young lawyers can apply to return to practice in just one year.
4. Strike off recommended for lawyer who threatened barrister with violence
A Victorian solicitor who threatened a barrister with violence has become one step closer to having his name scrubbed from the roll.
5. National firm not liable in employee’s alleged rape
A law firm fought against compensating an employee who alleged she was raped while attending a work event.
6. What partners want from junior lawyers in 2025
Mindset, enthusiasm, and adaptability have long been sought-after traits for the next generations. This year, such traits are shaping up to be even more pertinent, according to these law firm leaders.
7. Fake lawyer prosecuted for giving unqualified legal services
Another unlicensed operator has been prosecuted for using Airtasker to provide “legal advice and other legal services” to victims of crime for which they were not qualified or licensed.
8. ‘Bewildering’: Prosecutor turns to Fair Work for $1 raise
The Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions was criticised for its “baffling and frustrating” lack of progression guidelines, which forced a highly skilled prosecutor to commence litigation for a $1 raise.
9. DEI in BigLaw ‘not going away’, despite Zuckerberg’s call for more ‘masculine energy’
Time will tell how receptive American corporations are to a shift back to “bro culture”. For the heads of some of Australia’s biggest law firms, however, there is “no turning back” on creating diverse and inclusive workplaces.
10. Sportsbet hit with class action to recover millions from alleged illegal in-game bets
A national law firm has initiated a class action against one of Australia’s largest and most popular gambling companies, seeking to recover millions of dollars lost through alleged illegal in-game bets.
