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A prison threat and the ‘inferior court’ label: What’s hot in law this week (17–21 February)
In a week in which the Reserve Bank finally cut interest rates, we saw another insurance team poaching, and two High Court justices submitted that labelling courts as inferior or superior should be consigned to the dustbin of history. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
Lawyers Weekly
For the week from 17 to 21 February, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
1. RBA reveals first cash rate call for 2025
Has the time finally arrived for the Reserve Bank to cut the cash rate? In this special announcement, brought to you by Legal Home Loans, we reveal whether the RBA has opted to provide much-needed economic relief to home owners and mortgage holders, including lawyers, nationwide.
2. Sole practitioner struck off for taking $100k in trust money
A sole practitioner who stole more than $100,000 in trust funds and billed for work he never did has been struck off the roll.
3. Hall & Wilcox to take 3 insurance partners and team from Holman Webb
National law firm Hall & Wilcox has moved to strengthen its insurance offering by appointing three partners across Sydney and Melbourne, who are bringing a team of up to 20, from a fellow BigLaw player.
4. Prison threat for solicitor who must remove own name from roll
A lawyer found guilty of criminal contempt was given a one-year suspended sentence on the condition he “promptly apply” to have his name removed from the roll of barristers and solicitors.
5. Tasmanian firm loses $22k costs order for disclosure failures
A boutique Tasmanian firm had an order for $22,000 in legal costs thrown out when a court found it failed to make appropriate disclosures.
6. Law firm accused of colluding with police, pressuring client to plead guilty
A former client of MK Law Group alleged the law firm engaged in unprofessional, unethical, and misleading conduct during her criminal proceedings.
7. ‘Inferior court’ label should be abolished, High Court says
For two High Court justices, a decision on a judge’s immunity made it clear it was time for Australia to move on from “old English labels”.
8. How Bell CJ’s AI practice note will affect lawyers
Following Chief Justice Andrew Bell’s issuing of a partial ban on AI in court proceedings in NSW, a firm CEO has outlined the potential consequences and implications that may arise for law firms and legal practitioners due to this practice note.
9. Costs climb for expelled lawyer, colleagues behind controversial firm
An ousted solicitor and his colleagues had another $20,000 added to the bill for their lengthy vendetta against a legal disciplinary board.
10. In-house lawyer alleges CEO engaged in pattern of ‘unwanted sexual advances’
A legal counsel of software company Dovetail has accused the co-founder and CEO of persistent and unwanted sexual advances.
