Top 10 most important news updates for young lawyers
In this round-up, Protégé has tracked down the most important news updates that law students and graduates should be familiar with.
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1: What Judge Judy and Australia’s most notorious judges have in common
2: ‘Dear Sirs’: An outdated, archaic approach?
Women are not a niche cohort – or even a minority – of the legal profession and, according to numerous legal practitioners, the language used in precedent documentation and external correspondence must better reflect this.
3: NSW Law Society commits to stronger profession in 2021
With the profession still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, the new NSW Law Society president has made big plans for the year ahead that move beyond the recovery stages and ensure legal workplaces emerge more diverse and inclusive.
4: Pell media contempt case comes to an end
The major media companies charged for breaching suppression orders that were made to protect Cardinal George Pell’s identity from being connected to his now-overturned child sexual abuse charges have entered a plea of guilty.
5: ‘Zero tolerance for criminal activity’, says NAB chief legal counsel
Following the jailing of a former chief of staff to chief executives, National Australia Bank chief legal counsel Sharon Cook said the bank is “pleased” that one part of its multimillion-dollar scam has concluded.
6: 1 in 3 legal departments looking to add more lawyers this year
According to new research, one in three legal departments expect to hire more lawyers and other professionals in 2021, including departments that are intent on sending more work to law firms.
7: Meet the lawyers on the 2021 honours list
Chief justices, barristers, solicitors and scholars from across the legal profession have been recognised for their services to the law and to the community.
8: Listening to all LGBTQI+ voices in law critical for progress
When it comes to ensuring diversity and inclusion pushes are successful, legal employers must ensure that a holistic approach to LGBTQI+ voices is adopted, particularly with workforces being more scattered post-pandemic.
9: Why one firm pairs charity and community to its business vision
For Karim + Nicol Lawyers, “actions speak louder than words” in the firm and it is fundamental that the legal profession is more than just a provision of advice.
10: Why learning time must be part of your work schedule
SME practitioners would be wise to incorporate a “culture of learning” into their days so as to breed more innovative thinking.

Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at: