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10 stories in 12 days: A news guide for young lawyers
Lawyers Weekly’s Protégé examines the last fortnight of news to bring young, studying and new lawyers the key updates that they should know about their profession.
Naomi Neilson
1: ‘The Truth Hurts’: The fault lines in the criminal justice system
2: New justice precinct, law school under $350m proposal
A Western Sydney commercial hub has introduced a proposal to expand the precinct, including a permanent Supreme Court circuit and a new law school. This will see many more barristers, solicitors and support staff move to the area and expand on its already major legal hub with “new and innovative ways to improve the justice system”.
3: Patronising, loaded language must be avoided
Speaking recently on The Lawyers Weekly Show, Kate Eastman – who is now serving as a counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and the Exploitation of People with Disability – said legal professionals must develop a greater awareness of the words they use in attempts at diversity and inclusion.
4: Stage 4 lockdown: Employers to consider mental health reprieve
Partners at a national firm have cautioned employers against ignoring their employee’s mental health concerns as Melbourne braces for an extended stage four lockdown. In a webinar to examine how employers are handling the pandemic, firm Moray & Agnew identified themes of isolation and “change fatigue” affecting employees.
5: Will a hotel quarantine class action succeed?
One of the major points of discussion throughout the legal profession is whether there will be a class action around the failed Melbourne quarantine program and, if there is, what could that look like? A Monash University senior lecturer examines whether there are any grounds for a class action and what to expect from a successful suit.
6: How far ahead should BigLaw firms be looking right now?
In another episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, award-winning, global CEO of King & Wood Mallesons, Sue Kench, said that when it comes to decisions about the current pandemic and how it relates to logistics and practice areas, “you must step back from time to time, pause and have a look at what’s going on” in order to succeed.
7: National practice returns to full remuneration ahead of schedule
Due to a strong financial performance over the last three months, firm Colin Biggers & Paisley has become one of the first to confirm that its partners and staff will now return to their full salaries ahead of the COVID-19 planning schedule, two months ahead.
8: What makes a good legal support professional?
In conversation with Lawyers Weekly, Phoebe MacDougall – who was awarded at the Australian Law Awards for Legal Support Professional of the Year – said professionals should be playing their own critical role’s in driving their practice forward.
9: New ASIO guidelines do not address key concerns, LCA says
In response to the sweeping new guidelines relating to ASIO and its spies – including the collection of data and force during interrogations – the president of the Law Council of Australia has expressed some concerns that client privilege could be tampered with as there is no “specific guidance” on the limits set out in the legislation.
10: Top legal professionals call for safe release of adult and children detainees
An open letter signed by the profession’s top lawyers, barristers, academics and major law bodies has called on the Australian government to facilitate the safe release of all adult and children detainees to protect their health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
