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Top 10: What law students should know about the law today
Lawyers Weekly’s Protégé takes a look back at the last two weeks to round up the top 10 stories that young lawyers should know about the law today, including a look at our Australian Law Awards winners and podcasts with some really impressive legal women.
Naomi Neilson
1: Winners revealed for 2020 Australian Law Awards
2: Kate Eastman on disability issues in #auslaw and across society
In an episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy spoke with Kate Eastman SC about her experiences in an ongoing royal commission, how the law has supported (or not) people with disability and a post-pandemic landscape. Ms Eastman is a highly inspiring and incredible human rights lawyer –
check out her episode here!
3: Ministers not exempt from hotel quarantine questions, judge says
Speaking of royal commissions (or, in this case, inquiry), former judge Jennifer Coate said ministers – including Premier Daniel Andrews – were not exempt from answering journalist questions on the events that led to the current coronavirus outbreak. It was on top of confirming a request for an extension, due to recent Victorian developments.
4: Government commits to modernising contempt of court laws
Still on Victoria, the government has committed to modernising contempt of court laws so that they are fairer and clearer to attendees. This update will also overhaul the laws preventing sexual assault victims from speaking out about their experiences.
5: How a Biden presidency could impact Australian lawyers
It may not really seem like it, but the upcoming US election could mean big changes for the Australian legal landscape. In this two-part series, we examine how a Biden presidency could impact how Australian lawyers practice.
6: Melbourne law firms forced to close as COVID-19 stage 4 lockdown sets in
As Melbourne closes down as a result of its state of emergency, so too do firms – with a few exceptions. Shine Lawyers spoke to my colleague Tony Zhang on how the new restrictions will impact firms and what employers should be doing to protect their staff, or, if they choose not to, the consequences of ignoring crucial restrictions.
7: Justice targets a ‘wish list’ that lack real ambition, legal bodies say
The government’s goal to reduce incarceration rates of Indigenous people down to 15 per cent by 2023 has been rejected as “setting its sights too low”. Major legal bodies have expressed their disappointment over these targets and pointed to new statistics which clearly show these targets could be achieved far earlier than predicted.
8: Firm alleges human rights violation against column
The Australian Financial Review has come out to confirm HWL Ebsworth’s managing partner Juan Martinez has filed a complaint to the Human Rights Commission over the headline that used his first name as a pun, which he said insulted his heritage.
9: Top-tier team loses senior solicitors to boutique
Speaking of HWL Ebsworth, it has lost a top-tier team consisting of a highly regarded principal solicitor, special counsel and a senior associate to a boutique practice, KHQ Lawyers. The news follows a spotlight on the firm for COVID-19 outbreaks.
10: Sue Kench on BigLaw’s response to COVID-19
Global chief executive of King & Wood Mallesons – and winner of the Lawyers Weekly Award at the Australian Law Awards – Sue Kench came onto a podcast and spoke all things mantras, unique challenges to law firms, and opportunities from the pandemic.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
