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Drunk emails, misuse of privilege, and ‘misleading’ comments: What’s hot in law this week (29 April–3 May)

This week, Lawyers Weekly hosted its annual Corporate Counsel Summit and Awards, and the nation’s courts and Senate heard some headline-grabbing matters. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.

user iconLawyers Weekly 04 May 2024 Big Law
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For the week from 29 April to 3 May, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):

  1. Lehrmann’s defamation trial may be far from over, says expert
Legal experts weigh in on the key takeaways from Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial and make predictions about what may come next.

  1. Bizarre drunk emails to Chief Justice, Law Society see aspiring lawyer denied admission
An aspiring lawyer will not be admitted into the profession after she sent thousands of bizarre emails to a Chief Justice’s associate and a Law Society, including unintelligible rants about urinary tract infections, Valium, bottles of wine, and butter on toast.

 
 

  1. Family lawyer told client to ‘ignore’ divorce hearing
A family lawyer was reprimanded for purposefully delaying divorce proceedings and advising his client to “ignore” the hearing.

  1. Lawyer suspended for causing proceedings to be dropped
A Perth solicitor who caused proceedings to be dismissed and failed to tell the client has been suspended from practising for six months.

  1. ATO ‘disappointed with law firms’ on use of legal privilege
PwC Australia has been criticised over its misuse of legal privilege to obscure ATO investigations, a trend the Australian Taxation Office has warned will grow as the lines between legal and consulting services continue to blur.

  1. Victorian solicitor in contempt of court fails to reopen matter
A Victorian solicitor disciplined for contempt of court failed to reopen the matter on the grounds of alleged “equitable fraud”.

  1. Judge criticises Ten for ‘misleading’ comments after Lehrmann win
A discussion about costs in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation matter became tense when Justice Michael Lee accused lawyers for Network Ten of making misleading statements after their win.

  1. Solicitor rejects onus of proving he is ‘fit and proper’
An ACT solicitor whose practising certificate was not renewed has objected to a timetabling and onus issue in the appeal.

  1. Man says jury must be discharged after Bondi stabbings
An NSW man who killed his sister while in a psychotic state asked a jury to be discharged because of the horrific stabbings that unfolded in Bondi Junction’s Westfield and a church in Wakeley.

  1. HSF names 10 new executive counsel in Australia
Global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has unveiled another round of promotions following its appointment of nine new partners Down Under – this time, naming 10 new executive counsel across the country.

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